Did you know that I used to be a preschool teacher?

Did you know that right after that, I worked with schizophrenics?

Yep. And the trait that both have in common is that they don’t have a strong filter for what pulls at their attention.

Notice the waistband of your underwear, how your right knee is positioned, that last breath you took, the taste that washed through your mouth, the brightness of the screen you’re reading this on, the sound – that sound – that wasn’t there a second ago, the texture of the ceiling, remembering whether penguins have lips, what kind of penguins? There are eighteen species of penguins. The climate sure has changed. The flooring has cool patterns. Is it hot in here?

That all happens in a moment or two. 

If those thoughts filled your day, you’d be exhausted. I’m a fan of staying in wonder and at the same time, it’s important to be deliberate about where you put your focus. You are blessed to have filters that allow you to focus. (By the way, I also believe that schizophrenics and three-year-olds are blessed with their own abilities.) 

You get to choose where to put your energy and attention. Others don’t have that ability. Too often, we (and I’ll put myself in this category on occasion) drift through the day being busy being busy. We get through the end of the week and wonder where the past month has gone. 

The point to all of this is that if you’re not deliberate about where you focus, anything that’s in front of you will tug at you.

There are rabbit holes worthy of exploration. You need to be clear about whether they serve your future-you identity, whether they drive your goals, and whether they are a part of your values and purpose. Do they fulfill your true desires?

Watching “just one more” video will give you a dopamine hit, but it won’t get you closer to your goal. Stay intentional. 

What is your biggest desire in alignment with your purpose? Your biggest desire? Usually it’s related to money, travel, career, health, or relationships. It could be a thing like a car or something for your house. Or it could be a skill such as speaking Italian or playing a new instrument. The desire you have feeds your identity.

Don’t let distractions pull at you. Don’t let the noise, and there’s a lot of it, draw you away. Go to bed every night thinking about your desire. Wake up and plant it back in your head. Take it on as an identity. Then you’ll be less inclined to surrender to the distractions and more inclined to take a step, even a small step, toward your Next Big Next goal.

Keep making your magic.

See you here next week. 

Let me know what you’re working on and hey, tell me if I can support your Next Big Next in some way!

= Wayne =