Khaberni - In a world overwhelmed by constant digital noise, there is a real opportunity to enhance the quality of life by reclaiming our most valuable possession, attention, which guides us to focus and accomplish.
The author specializing in brain mechanisms, Judy Jackson, explains how we can redirect our focus to achieve this.
Jackson says: Imagine if you had a bag containing a million dollars, would you leave it open on the sidewalk? Of course not, yet we do something similar every day by exposing our most valuable possession, our attention, to be hijacked.
In his book "Stolen Focus," author Johann Hari sees that not only attention is hijacked but also your energy, sensitivity, and potentials. The good news, however, is that you can learn to protect your attention and direct it towards what you want, which positively influences our future.
Your attention directs your reality.
Your mind has its own "radar"; every second, it receives millions of pieces of information but selects only what really matters. This "selective awareness" is what decides what you see in your world, based on your thoughts and goals. It's why when you think about buying a particular car, you suddenly start noticing that type of car everywhere around you. It simply opens your eyes to what has been there all along.
So, your attention doesn't just watch reality; it creates it. The things you focus on expand and grow in your life. If your focus is on problems, your mind will show you more of them. But if you focus on opportunities, it will find them for you with vigor.
In our era, attention has become a commodity competed for by apps and platforms. These distractions impose a heavy cost on you, as they shatter your focus and make deep thinking difficult.
According to recent research, each distraction that occurs to your mind may cost you 23 minutes to regain your full focus, thus turning distractions into a hidden tax that negatively impacts your potential.
Three steps to reclaim your attention
Protecting your attention isn't just a matter of willpower; it's a conscious strategy in a world that seeks to pull your focus in every direction, and when you learn how to direct your attention, you not only manage distractions but also reclaim your most valuable possession.
Here are three practical steps you can take today:
Know the thieves: Identify the apps and habits that distract your attention, for once you monitor what steals your focus, you can start to take action.
Close the doors: Design your environment to protect your attention, you must turn off unnecessary notifications from your phone, and allocate distraction-free times for deep focus, whether at work or during relaxation.
Own a clear goal: When you have a real and clear goal, distractions lose their impact on you, as strong will naturally and spontaneously drives you towards your goal, making focus easy.
After you've recognized the real power of your attention, you ought to guard it as you would your most precious possessions. And remember that consciously investing your attention allows you to develop your reality and build your future, and this is well worth it.
