Focus On What Matters By Darius Foroux Book Summary

Focus On What Matters By Darius Foroux Book Summary

How good would it feel if you could find the true meaning of everything in your life, do something every day that is really important to you and live your life happily without any unnecessary worries, but the truth is that most people are so entangled in useless things that they do not understand what are the really important things. Days go by but nothing is achieved. If you also feel that it is difficult to focus on the right things in life, then Focus on What Matters is for you.

This is not a book with complex theories but an easy and practical guide that will teach you how to choose the right things and work on them. We will talk about how to ignore useless things and focus on your real goals. How to increase self-confidence and how to do something every day that really matters. If you want that your every day hard work in life should yield some concrete results, then definitely listen to this audio book because life is short and the time to invest it in the right things is now.

Chapter One: Why can't you focus?

Every morning, the first thing you do is pick up your phone. Isn't it? Sometimes WhatsApp, sometimes Instagram, sometimes YouTube.

You thought you would do something useful after waking up in the morning. But 30 minutes go by in scrolling. Then you regret that you wasted your time again today. But the next day the same story is repeated. How long will this cycle continue? In fact, you don't even know where your mind is wandering. Everything distracts you. Sometimes notifications, sometimes friends' conversations, sometimes an old memory and the biggest problem is that you don't even realize that all this is spoiling your focus.

Think about how when you were a child, you could concentrate on one thing for hours without any problem. But now when you sit down to concentrate on something, you start getting bored after just 5 minutes. The reason for this is clear. Your brain has become accustomed to doing many things at the same time. It needs something new every second. This is the real problem.

To focus, you have to train your brain again. First of all, understand what things you are paying more attention to? Are you really focusing on the things that are important to you or are you just doing what is easy? Until you get this clear, you will not be able to change anything.

Do a small experiment. Today, throughout the day, note down the things your mind wanders to. Whenever you get any distracting thing, write it down. At night, see how much time was spent on the right things and how much was wasted.

Maybe you yourself will understand where the real problem of focus is.

Chapter Two: The world is trying to steal your focus

Have you ever noticed that you come to do one thing on the phone and after half an hour you realize that you were doing something else. Like you just came to see us but opened Instagram. Then a meme appeared, then reels. Then a video, then comments and when you became conscious, 40 minutes had disappeared.

This is not happening only with you. It is happening with the whole world. Nowadays every company, every app, every social media platform wants that your maximum attention should be with them. You feel that you are using the phone. But the truth is that the phone is controlling you.

Why do you get a message on Netflix asking are you still watching?

Because they know that you are binge-watching for hours. The algorithm of Instagram, YouTube and Facebook is designed in such a way that you always see something new and exciting so that you remain engaged in it. You may feel that this is not a big deal. But this is the biggest problem.

If you spend even 2-3 hours every day on useless things, then think how much time is being wasted in a year and this is the time in which you could have made your life better. So now the question is how to get out of this? First of all, accept that the world is stealing your focus.

Nothing will change until you really understand this. Next time when you waste time on social media, ask yourself. Did I really want to do this? Or did the algorithm just trap me? If you want a change in your life, then you have to get your focus back. This is not easy but also not impossible.

Chapter Three: The real way to maintain focus

By now you have understood why your focus is weakening and how the world is stealing it. But the real question is how to get it back.

Just knowing the problem will not do anything. A solution is also needed. First of all, do not start your day with the phone. Yes, it is difficult. But if you start looking at the screen as soon as you wake up in the morning, then your mind will remain scattered all day. Try to spend at least three minutes without the phone at first. Do anything, take a walk, drink water, talk to family. Just stay away from the screen.

The second way is to do deep work. That is, whenever you do any important work, do it with full concentration. Do not look at the phone in between. Do not open tapes again and again and keep yourself away from distractions. Initially it will seem difficult but gradually it will become a habit.

Third, fix your surroundings. If your room is such where there are distractions everywhere. TV, phone, video games, then it will be difficult to focus. Make your surroundings such that it is easy to concentrate. And most importantly, set your priorities. Ask yourself every day what is the most important thing for you? Then focus on that.

The clearer your priorities are, the easier it will be to avoid distractions. Focus is not a magical power. It is a skill that can be strengthened with practice. If you really want to make your life better, then start working on focus from now. Because real success is focusing on the things that really matter.

Chapter Four: How to put your mind in the right direction

Have you ever felt that you want to do a lot of things? But you are unable to do them. Like you feel like getting up early in the morning and exercising. But when the alarm rings, you turn it off and go back to sleep. You want to concentrate on your studies or work. But after 5 minutes you feel like doing something else.

Why does this happen? Because your mind is scattered. It does not know what to do. The real problem is not that you are lazy. The problem is that your mind does not have a clear direction. Until you clearly know what you have to do and why you have to do it.

Till then you will remain trapped in distracting things. Think when you set out on a journey, first of all you decide the destination and only then you can find the way. But if you do not know where to go, then getting lost is certain.

To give the right direction to your mind, first ask this question. What do you want? This is not a deep philosophical question but a simple and straightforward question. Do you really want fitness? Or do you only get inspired by seeing fit people on Instagram? Do you really want a good job or are you just trying because of pressure from family and society? Unless you have a clear understanding of your goals, your mind will keep wandering.

The easiest way to get a clear understanding is to slow down your mind a little. All day long your mind is so busy with so many things that it doesn't get a chance to think. Notifications, social media, chatting with friends, something or the other is going on every second. If you really want to achieve something in your life, give your mind a chance to stop.

Sit alone for a while without any phone interruption and think about what you really want. Once you have a clear understanding, your mind will start working in the right direction automatically. Then you will not need to force yourself to find inspiration because the energy will start coming from within you and when this happens, your focus will become stronger than ever.

Chapter Five: Small Decisions Big Success

Have you ever wondered how some people become successful so quickly? While others keep working hard for years? The answer to this is not in any big strategy. Rather it is hidden in small decisions. Successful people take small right decisions every day. Whereas the rest of the people keep taking small wrong decisions.

Suppose you have to learn a new skill. You have two ways. Either keep learning a little bit every day or keep postponing it and think that someday you will do a lot at once. If you follow the first path, you will become an expert in that skill in a year. If you follow the second path, then even after a year you will remain where you are today.

This is the difference of small decisions. The problem is that when we take a decision, its effect is not visible immediately. Suppose you made a plan to go to the gym today. But you got lazy and you thought it doesn't matter. I will definitely go from tomorrow. Skipping a day does not seem like a big deal. But when this thought starts coming every day, then months pass and you remain at the same place.

Learn to take small right decisions. Whenever you do any work, ask yourself. Is this decision taking me closer to my goal or taking it away?

If you focus on becoming just 1% better every day, then in a year you will become 37 times better. But if you keep lagging behind by 1% every day, then gradually you will fall behind completely. So do not think of big changes. Just keep taking small right decisions. This is the real formula of success.

Chapter 6: What to do when motivation leaves you?

How many times have you thought that from tomorrow I will start working hard and then the next morning the same old story is repeated. This is the problem of depending on motivation. When there is enthusiasm, everything seems easy. But as soon as the motivation decreases, everything starts seeming difficult.

Actually motivation is necessary to start any work. But nothing is accomplished by relying only on motivation. Think, if a cricketer practices only when he gets inspiration, will he ever be able to play well? If a businessman works only when he feels like it, will he be able to succeed? Successful people work with discipline, not inspiration.

Now the question is, what to do when the motivation ends? First of all, understand that motivation is never permanent. It comes and goes like waves.

But if you make any work your daily habit, then there will be no need for motivation. Just like you brush your teeth every day without thinking. Similarly, if your hard work also becomes a habit, then motivation will not matter.

Secondly, give yourself accountability. If you are trying to do something alone, then you can give up quickly. But if you tell someone what you are doing, then you will feel responsible.

That is why gym partners or study groups are so effective. Because when someone is watching you, you work harder and most importantly, set small goals. If your goal is too big, then motivation will end quickly. But if you break it down into small parts, then every small victory will give you the strength to move forward.

So do not rely on motivation. When motivation leaves you, then adopt discipline. This is the real secret of success.

Chapter Seven: How to keep the mind quiet?

Sometimes it seems that there is a lot of noise in the mind. So many things are going around in the mind from all sides that it becomes difficult to focus on one thing. Sometimes the tension of work, sometimes the confusion of relationships, sometimes the worry of money and sometimes restlessness without any reason.

You are busy running around the whole day. But when you go to sleep at night, the mind does not calm down. You do not know when it becomes morning while thinking.

Actually, our mind has become like a continuously running machine which does not know how to turn off. The biggest reason for this is that we never sit alone and think about what we really want. We are just running. Without understanding what this race is for.

Until there is a clear understanding in the mind, this noise will not end. To get peace, first of all learn to give time to yourself. Sit alone without any interruption without a phone for at least 10 to 15 minutes every day. The first few days will feel strange. There will be restlessness but gradually it will become a habit. The more you keep your mind calm, the better you will be able to think. When the mind is calm, only then you will be able to focus on the right things.

There is no need to run after everything. Some things get better on their own at the right time. If you try to control everything forcefully, your mind will get more tired. So give yourself a break. Listen to your inner voice. Think calmly about what is really important and what is not. Only when your mind is calm, you will be able to make the right decisions and focus on the right things.

Chapter 8: How to learn to prioritize the right things?

There are many things in our life. But not everything is that important. The problem is that many times we start paying more attention to those things which do not matter much in our life and ignore what is really important.

Until we understand what is most important in our life, we will remain entangled in useless things and will not be able to focus on the real things. First of all, understand that everyone has different priorities. What is important for someone else may not be that important for you. So do not consider something important just because other people consider it important.

Ask yourself this question. What matters the most in your life? Your career, your relationships, your health or your own development? Until this is clear, you will not be able to prioritize the right things.

Often we get so entangled in small things that there is no time left for big things. For example, many people get angry at every small thing. They start getting tensed over every small problem and keep thinking about it all day. But if you think a little, you will understand that most of these things are not so big that so much time should be wasted on them.

If we learn to ignore small things and focus only on those things which are really important, then our life can become very easy. Most importantly, to give priority to the right things, sometimes we have to learn to say no.

By saying yes to everything, you will get entangled everywhere and will not be able to give full attention to anything. So if something does not match your real goal, then learn to leave it. When you learn to prioritize the right things, your life will become much easier and more focused.

Chapter 9: How to increase confidence in yourself?

Many times we do not trust ourselves. It seems that no matter how much we try, we will not be able to achieve anything big. This thinking gradually breaks our courage and we start doubting our ability. But the truth is that no person has full confidence in himself from the beginning. This is a habit that develops gradually.

Self-confidence comes when we complete small tasks and feel that we can do it too. But when we look for perfection in everything and think that we will not start anything until everything is perfect, then we are never able to move forward.

Every great person moves forward only by learning from small mistakes. If you curse yourself after every mistake, then you will never be able to trust yourself. But if you consider your mistakes as an opportunity to learn, then gradually your confidence will start increasing.

Many times people are afraid thinking that if they try to do something new and fail, then what will other people think? But the truth is that the world does not care much.

Everyone is so busy in their lives that they don't care much about your failure. When you start understanding that we only have to focus on our journey and what others think doesn't matter much, then it will become easier to trust yourself.

Self-confidence does not come in a day. It is built when you try again and again, fall and then get up and move forward. If you give up every time, then this confidence will never be built. But if you learn from every defeat and move forward, then one day you will find yourself at a point where you will not need any external support.

Chapter 10: How to set the right goal

Many times we ourselves do not know what to do in life. Just by looking at others, we make something our goal and then after some time we find ourselves entangled in it. This happens because we have never asked ourselves what we really want.

If you do not set the right goal, then no matter how good the path is, you will not feel that you have reached anywhere. The right goal is the one that is close to your heart and not the one chosen just because others are doing the same.

Many times we consider the dreams of others as our own and when we are unable to achieve them, we curse ourselves. But if you think in the beginning whether you really want that thing, then there will be no problem later.

Many times people dream big. But they do not think what will have to be done to achieve them. Just dreaming big will not do anything. You will have to work hard for it. You will have to constantly move yourself forward in that direction.

If your goal is really close to your heart, then you will enjoy working hard. But if it has been decided only by looking at others, then you will feel like giving up at the slightest difficulty.

Chapter 11: How to keep life balanced?

Nowadays everyone has become so busy in their lives that they are not able to find time for themselves. Everyone is either immersed in work or is trapped in some worry. But real happiness is found only when there is a balance in everything.

If you just keep working and don't give yourself time to enjoy, then after a while everything will start feeling like a burden. And if you just keep enjoying and don't make any effort to move forward, then life will stagnate. Maintaining balance is not easy. But if done correctly, life starts to seem very beautiful.

This does not mean that everything should be equal. There will be some days when there will be more work. There will be some days when you will get more time for yourself. Just make sure that you don't get so engrossed in one thing that everything else gets left behind.

It is also very important to maintain balance in relationships. Many people get so busy in work that they are not able to give time to their family and friends and later when they need someone, no one is there with them.

On the other hand, some people give so much priority to their relationships that they are not able to focus on their own progress. Both are wrong. There should be a good balance where there is work, relationships and time for yourself.

The most important thing is that whatever you do, do it with all your heart. If you are working, then immerse yourself completely in it. And if you are resting, then live that moment completely.

When the balance of everything is right, then life will seem more relaxed. Balance is the thing that makes life beautiful and keeps us truly happy.

Conclusion

If you really want to make your life better, then learn to focus on those things that really matter. In this whole journey, we saw how to understand the value of time. How to make yourself better. How not to give up in difficult times? How to set the right goals? And how to keep life balanced?

Now the question is, will these things remain only for listening? Or will you adopt them in your life because change does not come only by thinking, it comes by adopting it.

If you liked this audio book and you want to learn more such practical things in life which are really useful, then definitely subscribe to this channel. Here you will find many more such things which can change your life.

Next time when there is any confusion, any dilemma, then just ask yourself a question. Does this thing really matter? If yes then use all your strength. And if not then leave it without thinking. 

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