Our world is becoming increasingly filled with distraction. Information moves faster, louder, and brighter than ever before. Entertainment, social media, and marketing have never been so prevalent. They beg for our attention and our focus. In so doing, our minds are diverted from more important work.
We would be wise to adopt principles that help us live less distracted.
However, these distractions are easy to notice. We readily admit that we spend too much time checking e-mail, watching television, or playing games on our phone. After all, the battle plays out in front of us each day.
Far more detrimental to our lives are the subtle distractions that quietly surround us. They are not announced with blinking lights or beeping sounds. In fact, they have become so commonplace and ever-present, we hardly even notice their existence. But these distractions take residence in our mind and wreak havoc on our pursuits. And in the end, they keep us from living our lives to their greatest potential.
Consider this list of 9 ever-present distractions that often keep us from fully living. And recognize if any have taken residence in your heart.
1. The Promise of Tomorrow. Joshua Glenn Clark said it like this, “We waste so many days waiting for the weekend. So many nights wanting morning. Our lust for future comfort is the biggest thief of life.” It is not entirely foolish to look toward the future and plan accordingly. However, when we endure our days only for the sake of tomorrow (the weekend, the vacation, or the retirement), we miss out on the full beauty and potential of the present.
2. The Pursuit of Perfection. We ought to pursue excellence and pride in all we do. Our next step forward should be the right next step and it should be taken with as much intention as possible. But doing our best and achieving perfection are rarely the same. When perfection becomes the goal, it becomes the enemy of progress—and in this way, it often distracts us from taking the essential risk of moving forward.
3. The Regret of Yesterday. To live is to experience regret—nobody escapes life unscathed. We regret our actions, our decisions, and our motivations. But no amount of regret can ever change the past and only those who have come to recognize and admit their imperfections are able to move beyond them. Call your mistakes what they are, offer an apology when necessary, and then move on. Don’t allow regret from the past to negatively distract from opportunity in the present.
4. The Accumulation of Possessions. The things we own require our time, our energy, our money, and our attention. Every increased possession adds increased stress in our lives. And yet, we continue to pursue and accumulate more and more and more. But more is not the answer. More has become the distraction.
5. The Desire for Wealth. Those who chase riches have misplaced their greatest potential and traded it to the highest bidder. Our lives were designed for contribution—to provide a positive impact on society for ourselves, our families, and those who live in community with us. Sometimes, our contribution provides financial excess. Other times, it does not. But either way, when our contribution to society becomes chiefly motivated by a selfish desire to accumulate riches, it has become self-focused. And we have lost our opportunity to live it to the fullest.
6. The Need for Notoriety. The life you live is the life you live regardless if anybody notices or not. Those who live lives focused on the need to be recognized for it are usually the first to take shortcuts to get there. Instead, find significance in the eyes of those who know you best—because in the end, that is all that matters anyway.
7. The Pull of Comparison. It seems, by nature, we feel compelled to compare our lives to the people around us. We compare our belongings, our appearance, our families, and our successes. But each time we do, we place our focus and energy on the wrong person. Comparing yourself to others will always cause you to regret what you are not, rather than allow you to enjoy and grow who you are.
8. The Appeal of Pleasure. Many of us are led astray by the appeal and pursuit of pleasure. “Why not?” we might ask, “what is wrong with the pursuit of pleasure?” And I might even agree, at least to a point. But here’s the problem, pleasure is a terrible teacher. The most significant lessons we learn in life are rarely received during times of pleasure. Instead, they are born out of pain. I am not contending that we should seek pain in our lives. But I am contending a life lived chiefly for the pursuit of pleasure, will usually seek it in all the wrong places.
9. The Presence of Indifference. The world is a big place and we have much to offer. Those who choose to live life as a victim will always miss their opportunity to give. Additionally, those who choose to adopt an indifference to the world around them will miss out on their greatest potential. But those who recognize need and seek to do something about it, experience a joy and fulfillment that can never be discovered anywhere else.
Our world is full of distraction—the most dangerous are those we do not recognize.
But our fullest potential requires that we notice distraction—and work diligently to overcome it. (tweet that)
Eric B says
“The Promise of Tomorrow … Our lust for future comfort is the biggest thief of life.”
In my experience, this is (by far) the most common affliction I see among the financial independence/early retirement crowd on the Internet–e.g. people sticking out their terrible job for “just X more years” so that they can retire to a life of self-direction and/or leisure. That’s not to say you should necessarily leave a job you dislike (although that is most likely a good idea)–you might just need an attitude adjustment, perhaps spending less time on the parts of the job you despise.
It’s a bit discordant to see people who want to orchestrate their own lives slaving away in a profession that no longer interests them…
Lori in Prescott says
I met someone at a dinner party and the first thing that happens to me is a woman comes up to me and asks “What’s your exit plan?” I’m a bit stunned and am thinking “What? Fire exit? Funeral? What on earth is she talking about?” And talk she did about how much she hated her job but she had 15 more years before she could leave with her fabulous government pension in place. Wow. 15 years, I thought. And what an embittered (thought ‘set for life’) soul she will be!
Sarita says
And..in 15 years will that government pension be there for her?
I really enjoyed this post. Thank you.
BrownVagabonder says
My friend and I were having this exact conversation yesterday – how not living in the present moment causes us to miss important signals from the universe, and the people in our lives. We are so busy in our heads, that we forget to pay attention to signs in front of us that could make our lives so much easier.
I know this is a life-long practice to become present in the moment and stay present. I know there isn’t any quick cure for it.
So little by little, every moment that I am not living in the present, I pull myself back to the present, if I remember.
Lori in Prescott says
So well put! “Miss the signals from the universe”. Sometimes I can even look back and see how obvious something was but that I certainly didn’t pick up on it at the time.
Flor says
to me this is your best post by far. our consciousness always fights to be noticed, constantly battling with our flesh.
Olivia says
Through Minimalism I have learned to stop waiting for the things I want in my life. I was so tired of waiting on family or friends to join me, having the time off or being able to afford certain things I wanted to do. I am no longer waiting to do the things I love. If I have to do it alone, so be it. My biggest fear in life is the regret of NOT doing something that was important to me. I’ve started to make my workday daydreams realities, and it’s beginning to make my life whole. I feel like I am in complete control of the experiences I yearn for, and with Minimalism, I am on the right path.
joanna says
This is such a valid point. Such truth and a good big picture way of looking at it.Thank you.
Graham says
I really appreciate this Olivia. I am currently struggling with fulfillment. My sense of fulfillment has little to do with money and acquisition, though in this culture it can be hard to separate life purpose with the “need” for money to make it happen. I struggle with just wanting be as it seems money factors into free time and getting out of the grind permanently.
ren says
And besides that, no house, job, spouse, children, etc can be considered a done deal. All need time, attention, love..
Diana Bala says
Ahhh. Truth to cling to. Thank you for these.
Graham says
I would add cynicism to the list. This is beyond a doubt the biggest distraction. It is also the easiest to fall into without noticing. People get so overwhelmed by the world that they give up and fall into the 9 to 5 grind which just perpetuates the things listed. The whole paradigm needs to shift away from the old models that clearly do not work any more and are hurting us all.
joshua becker says
Yes, that’s a strong addition to the list. Thanks for pointing it out for us to consider.
Sue says
To add on (or to complement) Graham’s comment on cynicism, I also think complacency distracts people from living their authentic or fullest lives. When I encounter a person who feels like they’ve achieved everything they’ve ever wanted (spouse, children, home, car, career, etc.) I can’t help but feel sad for them. Complacency robs people of joy, anticipation, learning, risk-taking — that which makes life interesting.
ren says
And besides that, no house, job, spouse, children, etc can be considered a done deal. All need time, attention, love..
Brian Gardner says
Great minds, my friend — as I was reading (2. The Pursuit of Perfection) I was thinking to myself, “reminds me of something I just wrote.” And then I noticed a link to said piece. Thanks for that.
I have to admit the need for notoriety is something I struggle with — no matter how hard I try not to. It really is difficult to live a life without numbers.
But I’m also a firm believer that as long as someone is moving towards a positive goal, or away from a negative thing — they are in good shape.
Kelvin Tan says
Fully agree with Number #3. Life must go on..
ren says
Yep….no one, not even The Lord can change the past, all we can do as mere mortals is make amends and move towards better tomorrow.
Maureen@ADebtFreeStressFreeLife says
I must admit I’ve fallen into the trap of a few of these. What I find fascinating about the list is how many of the distractions lead to the misuse of money. Not just the obvious ones like accumulating wealth or accumulating possessions. Often when people are pursing pleasure they’re spending money they don’t have or if they pursue notoriety, or find themselves comparing themselves to others. I guess in a world where we are the unhappiest, most overweight and in debt society, it all makes sense.
phil pogson says
Number 1…..this is certainly my Achilles heal. Thankfully my wife knows how to live fully in the moment.
joshua becker says
Hooray for people who help us recognize and overcome our weaknesses.