We've reached the final part of our series on how to set your goals - in a way that your subconscious will embrace the outcome - and how to then stay sufficiently focused to do what needs to be done to achieve those goals. You can link back to previous Ezines in the series, using the links below:

No matter how well you start your day, a whole day is a long time to stay focused. Fluctuations in energy, sugar lows, suger highs, others' interference, unexpected crap, the odd bit of gossip, the need to take a breather... you need to be more focused than a world class sportsperson - because your life isn't played in two-halves, four quarters, three sets or eighteen holes.

And you need to be on your toes all of the time - because you never know the day or the hour when opportunity will come knocking. So, what are you going to do?

Keep asking yourself if you are where you are, if you're feeling as you should be, if you're doing the right thing, if you're allowing other people steal your energy. Keep asking, keep pushing, keep challenging yourself, keep at it... every moment counts.

Over the last few months, I have found myself using the phrase - purposeful focus - more and more. Much is currently being written, said and taught about mindfulness. Indeed, I read that the US is on the cusp of a tidal wave of mindfulness - given, as the Huffington Post says, the economic benefits of it. However, a very thin line divides pure mindfulness and mindlessness.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School defines mindfulness as paying deliberate attention to the reality of the moment in a non-judgemental way. Indeed, this definition is similar to the Buddhist definition. In other words, mindfulness is being present in the moment. But you have to be present on purpose - you have to have some reason for being present because, although a purist will hit me for what I'm about to say, just being present will not put bread on the table... Buddhist monks know this, they beg for their meals! You and I live in a world of responsibilities. We are responsible for others - those who actually financially depend upon us, those who look to us for leadership, those who pay us to do a job. We don't have the questionable luxury of experiencing reality for what it is in isolation from what it is we are supposed to be achieving.

Over the last few weeks, we have been talking about setting goals and, most importantly, what needs to be done to achieve those goals. If we don't achieve our goals, we merely confirm to ourselves that we were right to be cynical and unhappy in the first place! We achieve whatever it is that we want to achieve by doing whatever we should be doing now. This requires mindfulness or focus - but not pure mindfulness... purposeful focus is required. We should be living mindfully as if we mean it.

Beware of mindfulness. Calm and peaceful minds played beautiful music as the Titanic sank. The music helped but it didn't save. Pure mindfulness can be a recipe for self delusion: I'm completely as peace so everything must be alright... despite all the evidence to the contrary. I've seen it happen - some of you who are reading this have actually experienced it. Develop mindfulness in the context of where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Be ever mindful, not just of the reality of the moment and all the opportunity the moment holds, but also mindful of why you've turned up to the present moment - and what you want out of it.