Our world is shaped by what we pay attention to. What we see provides us choices for what we interact with and who we will eventually become. And this is why it’s important to pay attention to what we’re paying attention to.
Marketers have long figured this out, which is why we’re bombarded with endless commercials and ads all fighting for our attention. We’re more likely to view a product or service favorably the longer it holds our attention.
But this plays out in other areas as well.
We must focus on and pay attention in our work in order to do a good job. The more we’re distracted, the more our work will also suffer.
And we must also bring a focused attention to our relationships to establish a meaningful connection with each other. A divided heart keeps relationships casual at best, if established at all.
In the end, this is not so much a question of if we’re paying attention, but rather what we’re paying attention to. And like with marketing, our attention is often directed in ways not of our active choosing.
And when others control our attention, they then determine what we focus on and think about, and consequently who we become.
For instance, it only makes sense that our fears and anxieties grow the more we tune into the news, social media, and politics. These sources are not generally directing our focus back to God where we can find true peace and joy.
As such, we must regularly step back and consider who we’re giving our attention to and if this is the best use of our focused awareness.
We end up missing God’s best and living out someone else’s agenda for us when we fail to pay attention to what we’re paying attention to.
Wake up and be intentional about where you give your attention.
Photo by Mahdi Bafande on Unsplash
