Noticing versus Focusing

The other day, I was being coached by a dear friend when she asked a question that really resonated with me.  She asked me what I had been noticing about the situation that we were discussing.  Noticing....that word, the sentiment really stuck with me.
After the call I was still thinking about it.  About how it feels like a more gentle, active and mindful way of taking in what is happening now in your life.  I felt like noticing allowed me to see more of what was happening, to use a wider lens to look through. 
And then I started to think about what I typically do in my life, and that would be focus.  I have been a person who could be described as very focused and driven.  When I set my sights on a goal or decide on a direction to move towards, look out!  It is usually full steam ahead, target locked on and there's no stopping until the task has been accomplished.  A great method of achieving goals, there's no denying that.  What I started to wonder about was all that is missed when we are really focused on something, looking at life through such a narrow lens. 
Could there be a middle ground?  A way to achieve goals while still taking in all that life is offering you?
Looking at professional athletes, especially those who are preparing for a big game, they seem to have found that zone.  I want to call it relaxed intention.  They are certainly focused on the task at hand, know the outcome that they want to achieve, and also are fully aware of what is expected of them during their competition.  And yet despite all of that, they arrive at the game with their intention set, and an air of being relaxed, prepared and ready.  They carry with them the knowledge of what needs to happen and the quiet confidence to get there.
It's a lesson or mindset that I think would serve us all well in many aspects of our lives.  Being present, and taking a moment to notice what is going on around us, before we start to narrow our gaze to the task at hand.  Keeping that bigger picture in mind while we work on the smaller job at hand will help to make what we do moment to moment and day to day all fit together and make more sense as we piece together the bigger puzzle of our lives. 

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