Distraction: disruption, diversion, interference, confusion, upset, divided attention.
Yikes!
Distraction shows up daily inside of us and in our environment. External distractions might come from people around you, personal or work demands, an outside situation or simply life’s busyness. The internal distractions appear as worry, doubt, “mind chatter” or expectation.
Distractions can be pleasant diversions, like a walk in the sunshine that provides a needed break. Distraction turns to noise when you want to get something done but find it difficult to focus.
If your intention is to live life from the inside out, moving in line with your inner sense of direction, then what role does distraction play? Instead of it being a momentary game on the computer, is it a patterned way of being? Do you allow the part of you to rule that does “whatever you want to do,” without regard for the guidance that is available to you moment-to-moment from within?
Are you like a universal yo-yo, following whatever catches your attention in the next moment?
Inner chatter or inspiration?
You must be able to differentiate between an inspired thought that is new to you and the kind of inner chatter that clogs the stream. If your attention goes from one distraction to another, you never get quiet long enough to listen. You can only know the staticky picture of yourself.
The big picture—the world of possibility— remains hidden from your view and you have no way to unlock what remains as unrealized potential. The quiet voice within requires your attention, if you are to receive the ever-changing nature of what it has to offer.
That sounds worthwhile, doesn’t it?
Now…take some time to reflect
Take a breath. Release it. Take another. allow yourself some dedicated time of concentration/meditation. It doesn’t need to be hours of quiet, perhaps only 15 minutes. Then allow the question to simmer within you through the weekend. Let responses bubble up into your awareness. Notice new ways of thinking, of images or ideas that arise spontaneously. Pay attention to your dreams. Let it happen. Be aware. See where it leads you next. Let yourself savor this process of receiving from yourself. Don’t judge whatever comes up, just receive it. Make notes.
You may want to share something from this process. Sharing can be an important way to anchor an insight in your body. It can lead you to deeper insight. It can stimulate action. Feel free to use this arena to share whatever moves you.
