Why Are we so Distracted?

Written and orated by Netisha Alie-Grant

(Author of Inspirational book; Walking a Two-way Street)

Have you seen the movie “Don’t look up?” I heard someone mention it and checked it out! Seeing the trailer made me think it was a comedy but as I waited for the moment in the plot where the “prank” would be over, the movie ends with the world completely destroyed. Oh my goodness. While a movie, it Carries so much merit and accuracy to our current lifestyle. Honestly, Why are we so distracted? We are 'busy bodies' like Martha who instead of focusing on spending time with Jesus who was visiting her dwelling, was busy doing everything else. How many of us are busy like her today. Doing many things but accomplishing nothing? 

Listen to Podcast Here!

Basic and root meaning of the word Distraction: 

"A distraction is something that takes your attention away from what you’re supposed to be doing. … Distraction comes from the Latin dis-, “apart,” and trahere, “drag.” So distraction is when you’re dragged away from your task. [vocabulary.com]

Let’s have a look at some key agents of distraction in our lives today: 

-Multiple tasking 

According to an article titled “Why multitasking doesn’t work” published by Cleveland clinic-

We are designed to be “monotaskers.”-Do one task at a time. 

 in the article studies show that only few people can successfully multitask and we can only think of one thing at a time. If God designed us to think on one thing at a time then we must function in that manner for ultimate success. That’s why we can’t be happy and stress at the same time and so we must choose between the two. I love it!

-Attention seekers ( Biggest of them all; social media platforms) How many things are we switching our brains to think about with just 1 minute of scrolling social media? Plus the numerous notifications they constantly send us for a potion of our attention.

-Lacking the discipline of saying “no!”

Your inability to say "no" to those thoughts the enemy sends to distract you while you pray or try to do something else. 

Saying "no" to the people who come to take you off your scheduled course within reason. 

What is the price we are paying for allowing distraction in our lives? 

-Anxiety is actually linked to multitasking and dividing our brain’s attention- we become antsy and if we can’t feed our constant need to be all over the place we can’t seem to BE STILL! Thus anxiousness breeds within. 

- Decreased Efficiency or Getting a lot less done! 

We are wired to be monotaskers…our brains can only focus on one task at a time, says neuropsychologist Cynthia Kubu, PhD. Trying to do a million things at once only distracts us from getting any of them done effectively! 

- Lose or delay progress and your gain; just like Eve, Samson & David (Bible characters who got distracted) you lose yourself and by extension all that you were created to receive! One of satan's key tool is to distract, so keep a watchful eye out and pray for a spirit of discernment identify these distractions for what they are. 

John 10:10 the thief comes to kill steal and destroy but I came so that they could have life and have it abundantly! 

So don’t be like Peter who got distracted while walking on the water because he lost sight of Jesus-His focus- but instead be the version of Peter that fixed his eyes on Jesus and did the impossible of walking on water.-Stay focused! 

Here is a verse to give you practical steps to guide you into managing distraction in your life. there is always breathing, taking a break to recharge and saying "no" but the will help renew your mindset and position you in the right place to do the above. 

Proverbs 4:25-27 

25 

Let your eyes(A) look straight ahead;

    fix your gaze directly before you.

26 

Give careful thought to the[a] paths for your feet(B)

    and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 

Do not turn to the right or the left;(C)

    keep your foot from evil.