Distraction:
We live in distracted times.
It’s a curse.
It makes us scattered, unfocused, spread-too-thin.
It deprives us of the joy of getting lost in something: a book, conversation, landscape, creativity.
You can learn to focus better. I write about this in my book ‘Presence’.
But before you ’force’ yourself to focus, observe your distraction.
It can have different causes.
Sometimes distraction is habitual. We’re born to focus, but forget the skill of sustaining attention.
Sometimes we’re distracted because we’re more attracted to the thing we’re distracted by, than to the task we’re focused on.
Sometimes we’re distracted because we don’t want to do something. Ask yourself ‘why not?’.
This can be useful information.
Is it too hard?
Are the rewards not worth the effort?
Are you scared of failing?
Are you scared of success? (If you complete the task, what next? Will you have to set your sights higher? Grow? Step into your power? Sometimes it’s easier to stay small, distracted and ineffective.)
When you’re distracted, ask what information you’re receiving:
- Lack of mental discipline? (Solution: learn mental discipline).
- Dislike of the task you need to do? (Solution: organise your life to do less of what you no longer serves you).
- Fear of failure? (Solution: reframe ‘failure’. Everything you do can be a step forward.)
- Fear of success? (Solution: Stop being small. Take up a you-sized space in the world.)
Distraction is information. Stay focused long enough to learn from it 🤣
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I help you cure soul-sickness through creative transition.
Thirty years a writer, composer, painter, director & performer.
For coaching & conversation – be in touch
I recently published a short series of articles about putting creativity at the heart of daily life. I’d love you to get hold of a copy: