I read The One Thing by Gary Keller hoping to find out why I couldn’t focus and get stuff done. I have a problem with not doing important things. I do those scheduled things I must do and even wholesome habitual things. The problem is with creative or reflective things that I want to do. These feel important to me, but I find myself avoiding actually doing them. I got this question from the book:

“What is the One Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

3 things to be considered in answering the question:

  • Big Picture: What is my One Thing?
  • Small Focus: What is my one thing right now?
  • Apply to important areas - in order: spiritual, physical, health, personal life, relationships

Writing was the one big thing I thought I could do that would make everything else easier or unnecessary in my spiritual and personal life. I felt I was doing well with the physical and health areas. I decided that the first step for writing would be removing the chaos in the room where I write. I outlined steps (one thing at a time) and followed them to organize my room. My next step was to write 10 minutes a day. I did this a couple of times, but while the idea was in my mind, the avoidance was in my heart. My efforts got me an organized room, but I didn’t write. Maybe writing wasn’t even important to me?

During this same period of time I studied The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton with a great group of people. One morning as I thought about my failure to focus and do the things I want to get done, something came to me. The quote from the book is:

“You want the first elements? The infant has them…  Does not figure things out. Just goes along with them. Is part of the current.”

That morning I took a moment to sense “the current” inwardly and something wonderful happened. The thought of what to do came quickly and clearly and even though I didn’t think I wanted to do it, I found it easy to say yes and begin. I had focus during the process.

Another change: I was interrupted by something that came up and drew me away from what I was doing. I felt myself flowing with the interruption and not resenting being taken away from what I had been doing. I felt peace and was focused now on this other thing. When that was done I easily moved back into what I had been doing.

I experienced a sense of liberation. I felt not “in” the current, but “part of” the current.  This seems to be less about getting something of value done and more about actually being there in it.  It seems that my “One Thing” is paying attention to the current that I can feel inwardly. That makes me happy and motivated. There may be more involved, but I think this is the thing that will make everything else either easier or unnecessary.

Further down the page in the book:

“The disciple asked: ‘Is this perfection?’ Lao replied: ‘Not at all. It is only the beginning. This melts the ice.’”