Target Fixation

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Target fixation—a phenomenon where people become so focused on what's directly ahead that they crash right into it—extends far beyond driving accidents. As described in Aikido philosophy, we risk missing life itself when we obsessively lock onto future goals. The antidote is Zanshin: a flexible awareness that perceives both the target and its surrounding field simultaneously. Rather than narrowing our Vision to a single endpoint, we can practice "softening our view" to remain in conversation with changing circumstances. When you catch yourself tensing toward a goal, zoom out. Consider alternative paths and question whether your presumed destination is truly where you need to go. As aikido master George Leonard wisely noted, "The quality of your zanshin is the quality of your aikido, and the quality of your aikido is the quality of your life."