An Antidote to Distraction
Welcome to One Breath Away, a weekly newsletter about the benefits of practicing stillness. Think of these newsletters as a gentle reminder to commit to your personal practice and to stay connected with our Meditation Monday community.
Each week, I will share one idea connected to the world of mindfulness and provide necessary updates on our weekly meditation sessions. This week’s idea comes from Johann Hari, the author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again.
“The phones we have, and the programs that run on them, were deliberately designed by the smartest people in the world to maximally grab and maximally hold our attention. The truth is that you are living in a system that is pouring acid on your attention every day, and then you are being told to blame yourself and to fiddle with your own habits while the world’s attention burns.”
Without understanding the gravity of the problem, it is hard to commit to an effective solution. Books like Stolen Focus, Deep Work, and Indistractable all shine a light on one of the greatest challenges facing humans today: focusing our mind in a modern, technology driven world.
In 2022, more than ever before, I felt my phone, social media accounts, and e-mail inbox tugging me into their orbit. I often reflect on what my life would look like, both in quantity and quality of experience, if I wasn’t constantly getting sucked into the distraction of mindless scrolling. At the end of these types of days I feel tired, yet empty; like I missed out on experiencing the miracle of life. All the inspiring ideas and creative projects I planned remained in the darkness. Moments that begged for attention, like a morning cup of coffee or a walk in the park, were lost in thought. On these days, I am embarrassed to look at my screen time.
Meditation is, for me, an antidote to distraction. After coming out of a ten-minute meditation, the pull of my screen still exists, but it is more subtle, less persuasive. There is a pause between the ping of my phone and the hand instinctively reaching out to grab it. While one’s reasons for meditating may transcend practicalities such as decreasing our screen time, the most important thing is that one builds a personal practice that works. This means finding your reason why. Why is meditating worth your time? Without a clear and powerful purpose, the current of life’s distractions will sweep you away at first resistance.
What are your goals in 2023? What creative ideas or passions are you excited about bringing into the world? What habits would you like to bring with you into 2023? What habits would you like to leave behind? Who are you becoming?
Now, imagine what your life would look like if you didn’t get swept up by mindless distractions over the next twelve months. What if ten minutes of daily meditation could help you explore your dreams and passions? Would you commit to such a practice?
You don't need to practice alone. I invite you to join our first weekly meditation of 2023 tomorrow, Monday, January 2nd at 8 pm ET. We will be practicing a Gatha, or mantra meditation, inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh.
I am breathing in.
I am breathing out.
I have arrived.
I am home.
I am solid.
I am free.
The Zoom link for tomorrow's session is available here.
I wish you a wonderful year full of growth, peace, and passion.
In mindfulness,
Arik