The Coaching Academy Blog

Coaching Academy trainer, professional coach and motivational speaker Rasheed Ogunlaru highlights the importance of focusing on what you do have rather than what you don’t.

Do you tend to focus on what you have – or on what you lack? Far too many people that I meet constantly focus on what they lack rather than what they have. It’s a symptom of today’s consumer-driven material world, where we are bombarded with ideas of how we should look and what we should have.  But you can change all that – and enjoy more success by looking at life differently.

Be thankful for what you’ve got:

This autumn season leads up to what the American’s call Thanks Giving. It’s a time where they are thankful for what the harvest and life has given them. Many religions and spiritual practices invite you to give thanks. But how often do you actually give thanks and credit outside of a place of worship. You will find that those who are most grateful are those who are most happy and fulfilled.

What’s in store?

If you were going shopping it would be wise to check your fridge and cupboards before you write your list and go shopping. If you don’t do this you may come back to discover that you already have much of what you need and that some things may be beginning to rot and go off due to neglect. The same is true of you, your abilities, and your possibilities.

If you constantly are looking outside of yourself you may well be overlooking your potential. So sit down right now and list your skills, talents, qualities and what you’ve already achieved. Once you’ve done that ask yourself what is it that I can go on to create with these ingredients?

Your potential:

All things in nature are created with their own innate potential; the acorn becomes the oak tree and the kitten becomes the cat. It is innate. All of the information is there within the DNA. And so it is that you are born with all parts. You never grow an extra brain or extra limbs. You are complete. No matter what shape that completeness takes. Too often we overlook our innate abilities and become caught up in our ideas about what we might achieve.

By remembering you are already complete; mind, body and spirit opens you up to a deeper sense of wisdom, knowledge and confidence about yourself and your place and possibilities in this world.  As this happens you will move from an attitude of lack, scarcity and fear to one of thankfulness, acceptance, generosity, richness and growth.