There’s an analogy I often come back to whenever I think about personal growth and maintaining focus. Imagine you’re on a ship in the middle of open waters. Your job is simple but important—you need to stack stable blocks into a column. At first, it seems like a straightforward task. However, whenever you stack a few blocks, something causes them to tumble. Sometimes it’s the rocking of the boat. Other times, it’s your buddy on the ship doing something that makes them fall.

After a while, you realize the source of disruption isn’t always the unpredictable water. It’s your buddy. So, you have a conversation. You ask them kindly, “Can you relax a little bit while I try to stack these blocks?” They agree, and you go back to work. But sure enough, the blocks keep falling. At some point, you realize something: you’re supposed to handle the challenges of the water. But you don’t have to deal with the unnecessary disruptions from your buddy. That’s when you make a decision—maybe it’s time for your buddy to get off the ship.


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Taking Ownership of Your Ship

When I started to truly tend to my own ship, everything came together for me. We all have our own ship to sail—our own set of responsibilities, goals, and dreams. But too often, we let the actions and influences of others rock the boat. We get distracted by well-meaning advice. Sometimes, it’s other people’s expectations. Other times, it might be the self-doubt projected onto us by others. It’s easy to lose focus on our own mission.

For me, the breakthrough came when I realized I had the power to set boundaries. I didn’t need to try and control the water or the external conditions of life. However, I did need to take full control of who or what I allowed on my ship. I learned to guard my energy. I set limits on how much outside influence I allowed into my life. I focused on my journey.


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The Importance of Peace and Isolation

I’ve come to see the value of isolation—not in a lonely or disconnected sense, but as a practice of creating peace within myself. I chose to focus solely on my goals. Then, I realized how much I had let other people’s opinions and actions affect me. But by clearing my ship of unnecessary noise, I found clarity and peace. It was in that space of peace that my life really began to come together.

The more I focused on stacking my own blocks—step by step, without distraction—the higher the column grew. I didn’t have to worry about my buddy’s actions anymore because I had asked them, politely but firmly, to tend to their own ship. And when I did, my progress was consistent and strong.


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How to Tend to Your Own Ship

If you find yourself constantly rebuilding the same blocks in your life, it might be time to assess who or what is disrupting your journey. Here’s what I learned:

1. Identify Distractions: Is it the external challenges of life (the water), or is it something closer—like a person, habit, or mindset that’s causing the disruptions?


2. Set Boundaries: It’s okay to set boundaries, even with people you care about. You don’t have to be harsh, but you do have to be firm in protecting your energy and focus.


3. Find Your Peace: The most important thing I’ve learned is that peace and clarity come from within. When you clear out the distractions, you create space for true progress.


4. Own Your Journey: At the end of the day, you are responsible for your own ship. Whether the blocks stay stacked or fall is entirely up to you, and that’s a powerful realization.




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Conclusion: Progress Through Peace

When I started tending to my own ship, my life came together in ways I could never have imagined. The distractions fell away, the progress became steady, and the sense of peace I found within myself fueled everything else. If you’re finding it hard to keep your blocks standing, look around. See who’s rocking your boat. Tend to your own ship, and watch how high you can stack your blocks.