There’s the list of things that we need to do daily then deep in the recess of our mind is our ‘wish list’.

These are the things that if we had more time, money and energy we would jump at. And because they are not considered priorities, they remain as wishes – desires that go unfulfilled.

The problem is that they don’t go away. When something is important and you continue to ignore it, there is a constant feeling of dissatisfaction.

Best-selling author and Life Coach Cheryl Richardson encourages us to, “Imagine for a moment that cords of energy run from your body to everything undone or incomplete in your life. Some cords are wider than others, representing those items that have more energy flowing to them (often the items that we fear the most, like the unfiled tax returns or the medical problem we’ve been avoiding).”

This week’s card “Focus” from Colette Baron-Reid’s The Wisdom of Avalon deck, depicts a path leading into a forest.

Most are familiar with the phrase, “Can’t see the forest for the trees” where we are so engrossed in the details that we fail to see the bigger picture. And that is really what your question is about. 

Tips on how to back yourself and not back out of what really matters:

- Be mindful of how often you have inspirational ideas or projects but then quash them with ‘logical’ reasons not to carry through.

- Don’t underestimate the feeling of accomplishment. When we set out to achieve something and take the steps toward it, the sense of triumph can bring tremendous joy.

- Write down your wish list and pick one thing to ‘focus’ on. Sometimes we have so many things we’d like to do that we decide not to pursue anything – so choose just one and commit to that.

My ‘one thing’ to focus on has been exercise, more accurately to get outdoors in the sunshine and walk. I saw a TV advertisement about Steptember and took this as my sign. The fact that you get to exercise and help people with cerebral palsy only adds to the good feeling of doing something that matters.

For added motivation, I used my Flybuys points for the latest and greatest fitness-gadget, a Fitbit. I’ve charged my iPod and donned my sneakers, now if I could just find my Nike shirt…  

Send your questions for Sharon to editor@areanews.com.au

Sharon will be doing card readings at Griffin Plaza’s Family Fun Day on Saturday. Or you might like to submit a question for an upcoming edition of The Area News.