Just Checking In: A Lesson in Possibilities (From My Dad)

It was my late father who first introduced me to meditation—not in the cross-legged, lotus position kind of way, but through a rather unconventional lesson.

I was ten years old, spending time with Dad in his home gym. He had a set of weights, and I was curious to see if I could lift one. I picked it up and tried to hoist it over my head. I almost managed it but just didn’t have the strength.

Dad encouraged me to try again. Once more, I gave it my all—almost there, but not quite. The weight was just too heavy. After another failed attempt, I gave up. Or tried to, anyway.

Dad stopped me. “Okay,” he said, “let’s try one more time. But this time, I don’t want you to think about lifting the weight. Forget the weight. Instead, look at that tree outside the window. Focus all your attention on it. Don’t look at anything else or think about anything else—just that tree. Stay focused on it, then lift the weight.”

It seemed silly. How could looking at a tree make me stronger or the weight any lighter? But to appease Dad, I gave it a shot.

I turned my gaze to the oak tree outside, its leafy branches stretching skyward in every direction. I imagined sitting under it, my back resting against its sturdy trunk, maybe reading a comic book in the shade. I let my attention rest on that tree and nothing else.

A moment later, Dad said, “Nice job!”

I looked up, surprised to find the weight held above my head. Somehow, without even thinking about it—and without struggling much—I had lifted it. All while my mind was wrapped up in the image of that oak tree.

That little moment turned out to be a profound lesson in the power of focus. It felt like magic. How had I managed to do something I couldn’t do before, simply by shifting my attention away from the literal weight of the challenge?

“This,” Dad explained, “is how meditation works. It’s not about fighting the problem head-on but about anchoring your attention somewhere else—inside yourself—and letting go of all the reasons why you think you can’t succeed.”

I can’t claim that, at the age of ten, I suddenly became a dedicated meditator. That came years later. But I’ve reflected on this experience countless times. It planted a seed that grew into a core principle in both my life and my work.

The best lessons in life are often the simplest ones. Dad showed me what’s possible when we take control of the one thing we can truly master: our attention. When we stop giving so much importance to our limiting beliefs, we overcome the barriers they create. That’s when we discover we’re capable of things we once thought impossible.

And before I go, I want to ask you this: What small change in focus could you make today that might lead to a bigger difference in your life? Let me know! 

And that’s me, just checking in!