Where Is Your Focus?

I’ve watched The Phantom Menace many times. I’ve already written about Qui-Gon as a role model, but there’s one line of his that often gets overlooked. Right before they return to Naboo, he speaks to a discouraged Anakin:

“Your focus determines your reality.”

It’s a powerful line—one that can shape how we live our lives.

The Lens We See Through

Our habits, upbringing, culture, and personality all shape the lens through which we see the world. That vision then determines how we act.

When I was a kid, I loved baseball. But nothing terrified me more than standing on the pitcher’s mound. Everyone was watching. My focus wasn’t on excelling—it was on not messing up. As a result, I rarely pitched well.

Meanwhile, other kids relished every throw. They thrived because their focus was different.

From Rules to Relationship

That lesson didn’t end on the ball field. I carried the same mindset into my faith. Growing up, I saw my faith as a set of rules. The commandments and obligations felt like landmines, and I was terrified of breaking one. My focus was on avoiding mistakes rather than loving God.

Then something changed.

I was on a roof during my HVAC job, listening to The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I heard how Jesus endured injustice with patience, praying even for His abusers. He prayed for me.

At that moment, my focus shifted: faith wasn’t about rules—it was about a Man. The God of the universe, who had every ounce of power, chose to suffer and die for love of me.

That new focus reshaped everything.

Small Shifts, Big Change

Not every shift has to be dramatic. Most of the time, it’s the small adjustments that transform our reality.

When you talk with someone, what’s your focus?

• Do you try to listen for what they truly mean, or do you hunt for flaws in their tone or word choice?
• Do you dwell on their shortcomings, or look for the good?

Our focus will always color the reality we see. If you look for the bad, you’ll find it. If you look for the good, you’ll learn to love as Christ asks.

It isn’t an easy shift, but it’s the right one.

This Week’s Challenge

• Reflect on where your focus is—at work, with your family, with yourself, and with God.
• Choose one area where you can shift your focus toward the good.
• Next Thursday, pause and ask yourself: How has that change affected my reality?

Your focus determines your reality. Choose well.

The world needs more men formed in virtue. Forward this to a brother who’s ready to grow.