Death by Distraction

I know this is an extreme title for a blog post, but it is that serious when it comes to how dangerous distractions can be.  Our modern day culture is filled with so many things to pull our focus away from the task at hand. Hopefully, you don't get distracted before you finish reading this post. I say this because for many, it is that easy to get pulled away from one word to the next. 

The problem is that our distractions are embedded into a society that normalizes stress and neglects stillness. Our deadlines, our devices, and all of our technologies have programmed us to welcome interruptions. The constant barrage of distractions confuses our identity and endangers our productivity.

Let's break down the word "distraction." Distraction comes from the Latin roots "dis-" meaning "apart" and "trahere" meaning "to pull". So etymologically, a distraction is something that pulls us apart or away from something else. This origin reveals why distractions can be so detrimental to business owners and leaders - they pull us away from our core goals, priorities, and purpose.

The prefix "dis-" has connections to Roman mythology as well. It was associated with Dis Pater, a god of the underworld. So from the very beginning, the notion of "distraction" has been tied to something that leads us astray into dark, dangerous places. When we get distracted as entrepreneurs and leaders, it takes us into the "underworld" - a place of wasted time, missed opportunities, and death to our dreams or businesses. Literally death by distraction.

Distractions are like diseases or disabilities - they dis-ease us. They remove our sense of ease, prosperity, and wellbeing. As the good book says, God desires for us to prosper and be in health. Yet distractions block our pathway there. They disable us from reaching our full potential and the prosperous life we are called to live.

Distractions also disconnect us from our own inner spirit of self. When we get pulled into frivolous rabbit holes, ie: (Netflix, You Tube, Facebook etc.) we detach from our connection and sense of self. Ultimately, distractions disconnect us from our God-given purpose and destiny. They pull us away from the trajectory of greatness we are meant to walk in. We end up spiraling into time-wasting, unproductive, dream-killing behaviors. Our distraction becomes our destruction. 

What are some things you have been distracted or pulled apart from doing or making? 

Dis Appointment - What divine appointments have been delayed or missed in your life?

Dis Advantage - What better things, positive things, or opportunities have you missed or don't see because you're blinded by your distractions?

Dis Comfort - Can you still hear the comfort of your inner voice? Do you find yourself pulled apart from the silent moments where you can hear your soul speak? 

Dis Ease - What ease, prosperity, or comfort have been pulled apart from your body, life? 

Many of us know that many of our stress and diseases are caused by the distractions in our spirit, mind, and heart and they manifest in our physical body! Again, death by distraction...

As leaders and entrepreneurs, we must learn to recognize distractions for what they are - subtle sabotages that lead to disappointment. We must block out distractions and recommit to our priorities, values, and goals daily. Distractions may be inevitable, but it is up to us to be wise in our choices and maintain our focus and control. We can stay laser-focused on our mission and destiny amidst the pull of distraction. We can achieve victory over distractions and walk powerfully into our divine purpose. 

Death by distraction is avoidable. Let's encourage each other to cut out the distractions today and pursue our dreams with laser focus! Let's reclaim your time and mental space to focus on your goals and dreams!

The goal is to identify the distractions holding you back and then take practical steps to overcome them. Let's get rid of the distractions and take action to focus on what matters most!

We got this family! We are Dynamic.