The Squirrel Syndrome

Before I started writing this I went to get a cup of coffee.  I went to grab the creamer and next to it was the salt shaker, which I realized was empty and we were going to be getting groceries.  So I set that out to remember to get more and saw that the dishwasher needed to be started.  Once I started the dishwasher, I settled in to write this….without my coffee!  Can you say, “Squirrel!” The squirrel syndrome.

I was riding my bike on the Pinellas Trail one day (a nice wide 45-mile-long trail from Tampa out through the small quaint towns in our area). There were a lot of acorns on the ground.  I noticed a squirrel on the right side of the trail and didn’t think much about it. 

Until….it decided to dart across the trail. And of course at the very last second, right in front of me.  But in typical squirrel fashion, he couldn’t have been more than a foot past me, when he decided to go back.  Wait, he changed his mind again. Now he was going back the other way.  I have no idea how I kept from hitting him. Somehow made it safely to the other side.

Do You Have it?

Do you have “Squirrel Syndrome?”  We have all experienced it at one time or another – getting distracted or indecisive.  The Squirrel Syndrome:

• severe inability to focus due to distractions
• often darts back and forth, doubting their decisions, unable to choose a direction.
• learn what not to do

Chances are pretty good that you have or have had this. Whether as a business owner, working for someone, or in your everyday-walking-around-kind-of-life.  Your plate is full, maybe even overflowing.  Then you lose focus, too much to get done and one thing distracts you from another.  It’s about being at or over full capacity.  It’s about wearing too many hats or taking on (or being given) too much responsibility.

Leave Yourself Room Under the Cap (Capacity)

When you first start pursuing your dream, the impact of your vision is small.  That’s to be expected.  As you build and work toward that dream (widening your vision or impact) be careful. You should keep this in mind:

• You can cap your dream, your pursuit of it, and your impact on it, by filling your capacity to overflow or filling your team to overload capacity.
  • This causes you to lose your focus, rendering you less effective
  • This is when the squirrel syndrome kicks in

This is when you start putting fires out because now you have lost your quality and efficiency and are unfocused. Sometimes this leads to us just checking off menial tasks just to feel like we are accomplishing something.  Too many distractions (there is no such thing as multi-tasking).  You find yourself running this way, and then that.

Narrow Your Focus

You must narrow your focus in order to widen your impact, your vision.  This is key.  Pursuing your dream. It’s not just about how to get there. It’s actually more about who can help you get there. Remember this, as an individual pursuing your dream,

The Lion Tamer – The Master of Distraction

Know how to tame a lion?  The trainer has a whip and a stool, but it’s not with a whip, but with the four-legged stool.  The lion tries to focus on the four legs, but can’t, so it freezes him.  The four-legged stool is a distraction – squirrel!

Where is your focus? 

Get refocused:

Colossians 3:2 ESV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Psalm 119:15 ESV

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Challenge of the Week 

Narrow your focus in order to have a bigger impact (widen your vision).  Narrow the focus in order to be more efficient and effective.  Today in your everyday-walking-around-kind-of-life, narrow your focus on your strengths and priorities, and feel the energy!  So be it.

Bonus Verses:

Proverbs 4:25 ESV

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Proverbs 5:1 ESV

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,