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Distractions are everywhere and sometimes staying focused is easier said than done. How do we stay free from distractions in a world filled with them?
We like to think that we have everything under control. That’s not always the case. As hard as we may try, distractions can be relentless–eating away at our time and quality of time with people we value.
We’re all familiar with Merriam-Webster’s main definition of the word distraction. It’s described as: a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else. This could be a variety of things including…
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Social Media
This is surely one of the biggest distractions there is. Social Media can be very useful–a great resource and asset. However, if you’re not focused, it can pull you away from what you were there to do in the first place. We’ve all been there. We hop online and somewhere down the line we notice a post, something interesting or something we’ve been contemplating or wanting to look into. We click on it. Get engaged. One engagement leads to another. Next thing we know 10 mins has breezed by!
Silencing those pesky alerts and notification can help. Remembering our primary focus. Being our own boss. Our own accountability partner. Maybe give ourselves a reasonable time frame to be online can help. Remembering our goals and desired outcome can push us through. Lastly, experiencing success gives us an adrenaline rush, filling us with happiness, joy, and drive to create more success. We need to feed our focus and starve distractions.
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Smartphones
Smart phones are sort of in the same category as social media, simply because we have access to social media alerts on our phones. Which, leads me to speaking on disabling those pesky alerts, beeping, buzzing, ring tones and notifications.
This is a tricky area because we have so much in the palm of our hands with the possession of our phones–phone calls, text, blog alerts, emails, calendars, reminders, social media, banking, music, productivity apps and more.
There comes a time when we simply have to put the phone down, silence the phone, and let people know when we’re available and when we’re not.
There is an option we have to go into your settings and personalize each app. We’re able to disable permissions that allow your phone to send you each and every irrelevant notification. Or, try using the silent feature, yet keep the phone flipped over and close in view just in case your expecting a call or message from someone. With that said, you can set it to vibrate (if that doesn’t bother you) and keep it close by so you can hear it.
We can take full advantage of all of the options we have as far a settings and alerts. It sure could be helpful. However, we are captain of our own ships. In control of our own actions and reactions. We all know where our strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to being focus or not.
I think it’s best to reevaluate in the moment of being distracted while it’s still fresh. What distracted you? How? Why? What could you do to avoid it? If it’s a thought that came to mind or something that you ran across on your phone, write it down to explore later.
At the end of the day, the question is did we give it our all? Did we overcome our obstacles? Did we gain what we strived for? If not, don’t beat yourself up. Reevaluate and move forward. Learn from your setbacks.
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People
Here’s a few scriptures speaking on the company we keep…
Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Proverbs 13:20
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm
People. Yes, People can be a distractions. After walking away from some people. I call them “Energy vampires” as I’ve learned. When you walk away from them, you feel drained. You may have been in good spirits. Then afterwards you were feeling “down”, upset, frustrated, discouraged, drained and just not in the mood, mindset or motivation and confidence that you had before they entered your space. BEWARE of people like that. They can sense and see your POSITIVE, BUBBLY, OPTIMISTIC ENERGY FROM AFAR and they want it. They may be wondering (and I’ve heard people say this, and maybe you have to,) why are you so happy. Have you ever noticed when they asked that their facial expression wasn’t one of being happy for you or one of happy intrigue? It’s a face of confusing and extreme curiosity. You may not get the, “I’m happy for you,” that you were expecting. Not that you may need it, but it’s good to have support and other times encouragement.
Every noticed when you approach someone or vice versa, you’re in a good mood and they clearly aren’t at their best? Or, maybe that’s “just them”? Perhaps they’ve been that way. Maybe they’re a Debbie downer or negative Nancy, a complainer, or one that plays the victim. People like that (energy vampires) have the potential to suck your energy from you because they are in low vibrating energies and mindset. They will drain you by the quality or direction of conversation. You will notice when you leave (as stated before) you won’t be in the same mood or mindset in which you came. However, they may be uplifted. Sometimes you will find them laughing, smiling, and tickled by pushing your buttons and simply draining and using your energy. I’m leaving you with a few links to check out so that you can be aware of low vibrating energies and how to recognized them and deal with them.
This link is concerning 8 Symptoms of a Low Vibration to Look Out For (whether it’s you or someone else)
This link is concerning 8 Symptoms of a Low Vibration to Look Out For (whether it’s you or someone else)
https://raiseyourvibrationtoday.com/2015/03/10/symptoms-of-a-low-vibration/
This one is 6 Ways to Shield Yourself From Low Vibration Energies Without Avoiding Anyonehttps://www.lifecoachcode.com/2017/11/17/shield-yourself-from-low-vibration-energies-without-avoiding/
Lastly, the second definition of the word distraction according to
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary is: extreme agitation of the mind or emotions. With that said, Please, protect your mindset, guard your thoughts for they can be distractions also. Negative, self sabotaging thoughts can take us out of the will of God for us. They can take us away from our true potential, goals, values, perceptions and directions and beliefs. Their ego will constantly try to win and get your attention. Find ways to keep your thoughts positive, focused, and encouraging. Whether it be the scriptures, affirmations, surrounding yourself with any and all things positive, supportive people, songs, television content, videos, songs, TED Talks, quotes, uplifting beliefs, or meditation, keep yourself lifted!
I hope you found this helpful and for those who relate to the point of the content, thank you!
