By Rusty Potter
There is an old proverb that says, ” If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one”.
Growing up in Louisiana, I find that proverb makes perfect sense to me because rabbit hunting was something I knew firsthand. When you’re out in the woods, and two rabbits take off in different directions, you have a choice to make. You can’t chase both.
If you try, you will probably end up tired, frustrated, and empty-handed.
That old proverb carries a powerful lesson about life.
Many of us are trying to chase too many rabbits at the same time. We want to start a business, lose weight, make more money, go back to school, spend more time with our families, work two jobs, and accomplish several other goals – all at once.
There is nothing wrong with having multiple dreams. The problem comes when we allow ourselves to become distracted so much that we don’t give any one goal our full attention.
Sometimes you have to pick a rabbit.
Decide what is most important right now. Set your goal. Make your plan. Then give it your time, energy, and attention.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up on your other dreams. It simply means you understand that everything doesn’t have to happen at the same time.
I have learned that focus is one of the greatest ingredients for success. When you know what you are trying to accomplish, you can stop allowing every distraction to pull you in a different direction.
Think about how many opportunities we miss because we’re constantly looking at what somebody else is doing.
Your friend has a new car, so you want a new car.
Someone buys a new house, so suddenly you want a new house.
Someone else reaches a goal, and you abandon yours to chase theirs.
Stop chasing somebody else’s rabbit.
Your journey is your journey.
So this week, ask yourself: What rabbit am I chasing?
Pick your target. Stay focused. Keep moving.
And when you finally catch that rabbit, celebrate your victory – then decide what you want to chase next.
That old proverb taught me something growing up that I still believe today:
You can’t chase two rabbits at the same time.
