The Other Side Of Tunnel Vision
I am a text book example of tunnel vision. I sometimes can get so focused on finishing a project or accomplishing a goal that I block everything else out. I do whatever I need to do to accomplish that goal. I like to call it laser focus. I had to get it done no matter what and I was going to do just that. I know most would think that that is a good thing and it is, but sometimes it is not. Don’t believe me, let me tell you a story.
One day a couple of years ago, I was headed to Wal-Mart for an item I needed to complete a project. If you know me, you will know that I love Wal-Mart and I know just about where everything is in that place. So, I head to Wal-Mart and I go directly where I believed the item should have been. Well I look and look, and I don’t see it. I just chalked it up to maybe they were just out of that item and I would come back next week and get it then. Well next week comes around and I go back to Wal-Mart to the same spot at before and you guessed it, it was not there. By this time, I am a little irritated. I am like Wal-Mart is slipping and they need to get their inventory up to par and I leave again without the item I was looking for. So again, I say I will come back one more time to see if they would get my item in or I was going to have to try somewhere else. The next week comes and I again head to Wal-Mart looking for my item I needed to complete a project. I go to the same isle I went to for the item, but I realized, this time was a little different. When I entered this isle the 2 previous times, I entered and immediately looked to my left every time. This time after looking to the left of the isle and still not seeing the item I needed, I finally turned to my right and instantly saw the item I had been looking for. Had it been there the whole time? Unfortunately for me, it was. This instance taught me a huge lesson.
It taught me that although tunnel vision (laser focus) is a wonderful thing to have. It has helped me to accomplish many things, but in this instance, it delayed my completion of my goal. Yes, my tunnel vision got me to the right area to complete my goal, but I fell just short finding what I needed to complete my task. If I had only widened my tunnel vision just a little I would have noticed what I needed was there all the time.
Am I the only one this has ever happened to? Have you ever been so focused on one thing and missed an opportunity that would help you further your goal? Maybe you are convinced that your side of an argument is the only way to be or think and you are unwilling to see someone else’s side of things? Or are you so set in your ways that you refuse to be open to new ways of doing things? I am not here to judge anyone. I just want to encourage someone else to stay focused but expand your view sometimes just to make sure you don’t miss an unexpected blessing that may be on the other side of your tunnel vision.
