Distractions are everywhere, pulling you away from what you are trying to focus on. These interruptions can be self-imposed, such as choosing to watch television or scroll through social media or they can be “should loops” that take over your mind, leaving you feeling overwhelmed by obligations.
Furthermore, disruptions can be initiated by others, i.e., someone or something that interrupts and vies for your attention, like a person or pet. Sometimes these breaks are welcomed. However, when they are not, they can feel intrusive, causing your mood and concentration to falter and leaving your mind, body, and heart out of balance.
It’s at moments like these that your survival instincts take over, causing you to react and lose focus on your priorities.
Awareness is key to staying focused amid the disruptions.
Categorizing distractions can help you distinguish between helpful ones, like a quick break to recharge, and others that cause tension and inner turmoil. Additionally, understanding how you take in and process information, i.e., do you concentrate on facts, jump into action, or become emotionally impacted, can help you identify any irrational beliefs that prevent you from moving forward.
From an Enneagram perspective, how you decipher data correlates to your Centers of Expression, which influence your relationship dynamics and how you’re likely to be perceived by others. Although you have access to all three centers—Thinking, Action, and Feeling—one tends to be strongly expressed and overused, while another may be neglected.
Turning inward can help you access all three centers, which can support you in pivoting and overcoming obstacles.
Safeguard your energy and space to remain productive.
Recognizing that some people may not pick up on verbal and nonverbal cues, you may need to set boundaries. For example, you could shut your door and put a note on it, find a private room, silence your phone, turn off alerts, and inform others when you’ll be out of reach for a specific time period.
As Author James Clear indicates:
“Highly focused people do not leave their options open. They select their priorities and are comfortable ignoring the rest. If you commit to nothing, you’ll be distracted by everything.”
Your mindset and outlook are key to minimizing resistance and proactively managing disruptions.
Here are five ways to support you:
#1 Aim for betterment, not perfection.
One of the beneficial outcomes of inner work is bolstering your self-confidence, which is your attitude toward yourself and your capabilities. Accepting all aspects of yourself creates alignment in your system, minimizing the need to cover up and blend into mainstream expectations. As your confidence in your capabilities grows, other people’s opinions impact you less, making you less attached to your established personas. And, when you recognize your strengths, weaknesses, assets, and liabilities, you can be more forgiving and self-compassionate when you’re not at your best.
#2 Acknowledge what you need.
Because your system is dynamic and responsive to what is happening around you, how you feel will constantly change, which may make it difficult to remain calm and grounded. Even unmet physical needs, like being hungry or tired, affect how you interpret what you see and hear, and when under pressure, you may snap at those around you. Cultivating habits to help you discern what is and is not within your control is essential. Carl Jung aptly stated, “What we resist persists,” and posited that the more you fight against what is, the more of it you bring into your life. By accepting your limits and surrounding restrictions, you can focus on what’s in your control rather than deliberating on what’s not. Furthermore, developing your emotional intelligence can help you remain present, regulate your emotions, and reduce automatic reactions when triggered.
#3 Embrace neutrality.
Although the exact origin is unclear, there’s a popular quote often attributed to Viktor Frankl that embodies the essence of neutrality, i.e., the space in between the disturbance and what you choose to say or do or not say or do next. The quote: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Adopting a neutral stance means practicing non-judgmental perception and refraining from labeling what has occurred, without giving it any thought or emotion. Being able to access your current state and your desired state can help you decide on simple steps you can take to close the gap later.
#4 Reclaim your authority.
Lao Tzu shared, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” This quote is a reminder that you can evaluate what you put on your to-do list and what you expect from yourself and others. Just because you think about it doesn’t mean you need to act on it, so maximize your efforts by removing what’s not necessary. Also, if you find yourself saying, “I should, or I must…,” check whether this is something you can and want to do, or whether it’s someone else’s expectation or social pressure. Then reclaim your authority, instead of future-scenario planning or playing the what-if game. Lastly, no one is a mind reader, so if you expect something in terms of behavior or action from another person, be clear, direct, and transparent to avoid sending mixed messages between what you say and do.
#5 Schedule uninterrupted time.
Directing your energy and intention toward a goal or objective can help you create optimal experiences. Additionally, when your thoughts and actions align with what energizes you, you can reduce any confusion or friction between your heart and mind, thereby experiencing more joy and fulfillment. Author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi called this state “flow,” in which your actions and awareness merge, and you can fully concentrate on a task with effortlessness and ease. The ability to do this enables you to work with your belief system, transform your mindset, and unlock your potential. Also, incorporating simple, structured habits to schedule your strategic work time can help boost your motivation and the importance of doing so.
Your attitude and belief in yourself make all the difference.
As Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” As you become more self-aware, you can incorporate ways to modify what no longer serves you—thus embracing your best self, who you are at your core. Here are ten practices that have enriched my well-being and outlook on life. Also, you don’t need to wait until a particular date or milestone to begin. Take one step—now—no matter how small, while you’re determined to alter your state of being.
Activate your best with those around you.
Self-leadership is about getting to know yourself better and applying that knowledge to how you interact with others. As a lifelong student, certified professional coach, and consultant, activating the best in others through self-leadership, interpersonal relations, and team dynamics are passions of mine. My approach is personalized and customized, tapping into various assessments, disciplines, modalities, and techniques. Contact me to get started.