I experienced target fixation this recently when jumping off the roof of my father-in-law's house into his backyard pool. This was my first experience of "roof diving" and I must admit that it was unique.
Allow me for a moment to explain my experience of roof diving. My adventure began by climbing up a metal ladder in wet, bare feet onto the roof. It may not be obvious to some readers, so I want to be clear here: it is summer time in Arizona and metal (really anything) that is left in the sun is very hot, so climbing this ladder is slightly uncomfortable.
The roof I climbed onto was hot and rough. Standing on the roof went from a sensation of burning to uncomfortable after my brother-in-law donated his shirt to the this-hot-roof-is-burning-my-feet charity drive, however, I found that my weight and his weight standing together in the same small area on a thin plywood roof was great motivation to jump off the roof!
We did some quick, vague, planning of where we would jump to try to avoid slamming into one another and off we went...
As I planted my last foot on the roof and began my leap towards the pool I noticed that my level of concentration peaked. I looked intently at the pool, focusing on the goal to enter the water and not the concrete. I applied adequate force to project myself off of the roof and towards to pool, but not so much force as to propel me over the pool and into the wall adjacent to the pool.
As I descended I retracted my feet and used my arms to try to control the orientation of my body so that by face was not the body part to enter the water first. Everything else around me faded away - it all became inconsequential. My entire being for that brief second was focused on the single objective of entering the water.... nothing else mattered.
This story relates well to what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:5
For those who live according to the flesh
set their minds on the things of the flesh,
But those who live according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit. (NKJV)
Paul was explaining that focus matters. In the Christian life, we must keep our focus on what we are doing. We must remain attentive that our focus is to enter the kingdom of heaven and accomplish our mission at hand: to share the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to a dying world. We are to run (and jump) and work towards this goal without distraction.
Does this mean that our life will look different from other people? Probably. A life spent focusing on the Spirit and the goal of spreading the gospel of Jesus to the entire world should look different than a life spent focusing on a relaxing retirement or other self-service.
Does this mean that I will live a life of poverty? Maybe, but the life a believer that is focused on the kingdom of God will find incredible treasure and assurance in their relationship with the Creator - something that cannot be purchased. How many people look to their retirement savings or house for hope when they are facing death?
Does this mean that I will be miserable? No. happiness is an emotional state, that is highly dependent upon the perspective of the moment. This is why something you have, or do, may make you happy one day and not the next. The bible says that Jesus brings joy to the heart of believers and it is a joy that is eternal.
I am focusing on the Savior, His mission, and eternity.
What are you focusing on?
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