Divide the Rapids of Distraction

They are relentless and unending.

“At times the whole world seems to be in conspiracy to importune you with emphatic trifles. Friend, client, child, sickness, fear, want, charity, all knock at once at thy closet door and say, ‘Come out unto us.’ But keep thy state; come not into their confusion. The power men possess to annoy me I give them by a weak curiosity. No man can come near me but through my act.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The world will tempt you to distraction.
You must stand firm like a boulder dividing the rapids.

Phones and watches constantly call for your attention. Endless entertainment options await on Netflix and its competitors. Social networks tug on your fear of missing out. There are bills to pay, mouths to feed and one calamity after another to address.

Life carries you away like a canoe without a paddle on rapids full of crushing rocks, swirling maelstroms and roaring waterfalls. With each passing moment, the shadow of longing and regret grows ever longer. Being a spectator to your own life is disheartening.

Focus is your weapon against distraction. It anchors you like a boulder, diverting the rapids of Life long enough for self direction to take hold. Great works are created in this sheltered, hallowed space.

Your ability to focus is aided by the nature of its object:

• Is it aligned with purpose backed by meaning?

• Are joy, fulfillment, strength and wisdom among its byproducts?

Anything else is a distraction.

The fast flowing waters of Life’s rapids will dislodge you at some point. Let it do what it will as you gather strength to once again refocus your efforts. This is the normal course of events... repeating in an endless cycle.

Continue creating your great work with focus as your anchor at different places along Life’s winding course. No two moments are in the same place or with the same person.

No great work was ever achieved without focus overpowering distraction. Become the boulder in the rapids. Be relentless in the renewal of your efforts.

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🤔 Food for Thought:

What distractions do you struggle with most?

Do you find anything useful in distraction?

How do you make room for what is meaningful?

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⚙️ One Small Step:

When distraction makes you a spectator in your own life, consider the following questions:

• When are you at your strongest in willpower and motivation?

• When are distractions at their lowest level?

• When are you the most creative?

Look for the confluence of these answers and start there.