We love to complain about distractions.
We love to beat ourselves up about not being able to ignore them and focus beyond them.
I can’t help wondering why we keep them in the forefront of our minds. There has to be some reason for it.
Maybe distractions allow us to: Stay busy
So we don’t have time to:
- Risk criticism
- Appear foolish
- Stand out from the crowd
- Move out of our comfort zones
- Face a deeper truth
- Change our lives
Yes, I know, it makes me feel uncomfortable too.
But at least it gives me something to work on, something to explore, to do something about. At least if we think about it - think beyond the distractions into what they allow us to do (stay safe, stay safe) - the way we choose to respond to them becomes more conscious and more deliberate.
And the things we spend our time on become not distractions at all, but choices we’ve made about the way we use our time.
What do you think… can you see ways that distractions might be helping you to stay safe or stay put? Does that change the way you feel about the distractions?
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joanna Paterson. Joanna Paterson said: What Distractions Allow Us to Do: Part 2: We love to complain about distractions. We love to beat ourselv… http://bit.ly/bWD6Xo [...]
I get distracted when I am doing work I do not enjoy. I’ve had to work on focus, because it sure works best when I simply concentrate and get it done.
.-= Robyn McMaster´s last blog ..Who is your neighbor and why should you care? =-.
Hi Joanna.
Oh, I wish I could see distractions in a positive light! They are a thorn in my side, I’m afraid. Once I get into a project I can become lost in it and I like it that way. Getting into it is the challenge. Seems it’s an either/or black or white scenario for me. I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us. And, great image BTW — love it.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..9 Animal Totem Cards for Your Muse =-.
Twitter: sageraven
says:
Ouch! Go figure the first chance I get to read a post here and you hit it on the nail. It is a frightening concept to see distractions as a way of playing it safe. (Hugs)Indigo
.-= Indigo´s last blog ..The Ocean In Me… =-.
It’s that fight or flee thing in our primal brain at work again, isn’t it? Especially when we get on unfamiliar ground, or border forbidden territory. Dragons can begin to roar. So we toss them a few morsels of our time, or attention, or try to distract THEM. But in the end..if our quest is a sacred one to us, some part of our essential soulness, well..we better head to the tricks and other magical methods emporium before we set out, don’t you think?
.-= Janice Cartier´s last blog ..Time To Paint =-.
Twitter: joannapaterson
says:
Robyn it’s interesting to me in this series to see just how hard we all find it to focus… yet also how easy and effortless it is when we’re in the flow (especially doing things we love)
Davina I recognise that one too
The way I’ve tried getting round it this year is to allow myself to have several things on the go at once. I find if I try and focus on one I freeze, whereas if I can keep moving between three things I can be in an overall flow of working on them, and get flowing on one particular project, maybe because I know I can move on again. I’m not sure if this is actually good practice, or is making my restless nature worse… but it does seem to help me get less stuck.
Indigo sorry!
I was just interested to try and figure out why we - collectively - so crave focus, and yet find it so hard, and so enjoy talking about the lack of it. I figured there must be an underlying fear… and I think this is probably it.
Janice absolutely. I had no idea when I set out on this journey of change, when I left the comfort of the known, how the landscape would change. How it would open up wonderful landscapes of possibility and adventure, but also how many dragons you need to face, and pass. But courage we do find… like you say, if it’s something you’re doing as part of your essence, that’s connected to your soul, there isn’t really a ‘maybe I will, maybe I won’t’ decision…
[...] What Distractions Allow Us to Do: Part 2 [...]