Sub-traction.
Life runs deeper than we often realize.
True story.
For me, the constant busyness and the rush of everyday life can distract me from slowing down and truly paying attention.
To notice the small miracles around me.
To listen to the quiet, still small voice within.
To understand what my body is trying to tell me.
To see beyond the surface of what others share with me.
Where my attention goes, my energy follows. When I get caught up in my to-do list and the constant rush, it pulls me away from what really matters. The present moment. The person in front of me. The state of my soul.
Maybe you’ve felt this too?
We live in a world that’s speeding up every day, bombarding us with distractions in countless forms. We’re drowning in information, entertainment, and endless opportunities.
That’s why I wanted to share five things you can let go of today—things that have helped me live with more presence and awareness:
Outside noise: I let go of TV, social media, and the news. No more constant scrolling or getting lost in biased propaganda during my downtime. At first, I felt like I was missing out. Now, I feel the joy of missing out. Funny enough, the truly important information still finds its way to me. Silence feels uncomfortable at first, but it’s far better than being overwhelmed by outside noise.
Inner criticism: It took me a while to recognize the negative stories replaying in my mind. I found that just getting to neutral was key. I did this by talking it out and writing it down. The goal is to get it out, so it loses its power over you. I encourage you to write down any self-limiting beliefs you’re holding on to, and then find someone you trust to help you process them. This way, you can start turning those negative thoughts into positive affirmations.
Procrastination: Why do we push today’s opportunities into tomorrow’s mad-dash? Fear is often the main reason, followed closely by laziness. Some of us need the pressure to perform—that’s why deadlines are lifelines. But if we’re honest with ourselves, much of what we delay can be done today. Eliminating procrastination isn’t about becoming a super-achiever. It’s about doing what really matters and valuing the gift of today. In my experience, it’s about saying NO to the minor things and YES to the major ones.
Resentments: I’ve done a lot of work on this. Holding on to resentments poisons our present and diminishes our future. Letting go requires deep soul-searching. Why let someone live rent-free in our heads? Letting go of past wounds might require therapy for some of us, and it definitely requires forgiveness. Forgiveness means letting go of the desire for a different past. I had to accept that the people who hurt me were also hurting in ways I couldn’t see. This doesn’t excuse what happened, but it means I don’t have to carry that pain anymore. I have the power to acknowledge it, feel it fully, and then make peace with it. There is no forgiveness without love, and no love without forgiveness.
Toxicity: Some things in our lives need to go. Like toxic relationships we hold on to for reasons we don’t even fully understand. There are also self-limiting beliefs and behaviors we cling to that keep these people in our lives. I know this firsthand. Old habits die hard; bad relationships die harder. But if we want to be free, we need to let go of anything or anyone holding us back. So we have to have the conversation. Close the account. Delete the number. Turn the page. And, cut the cord. Finding the courage to do what we know we need to do no matter what is essential. Because freedom lies on the other side.
I’m not sure which idea from this list resonates with you the most, but I’d start there. Pen to paper, or face to face. Don’t be afraid to sub-tract these five things from your life.
The older I get the more I realize that life is about sub-traction, not addition. To sub-tract means, “to draw from below.”
The “below” isn’t under our feet, it means to draw strength from within. There’s a powerful, life-giving reservoir within each of us.
You see, the world wants to bury, confuse, obscure, and weigh us down. Letting go of anything that insults our soul is the real work we have to do. Our main job in life is to tap into the internal source within, so we can live from the inside out and not the other way around.
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Steve Knox | Somewhere in Alabama
I hope this post finds you at just the right moment. I know I need to be reminded of how far I've come. How much grace and kindness I need to show myself. And, how far I still (hopefully) have to go. Here's to taking the inward journey. Thanks as always for reading. Please forward or share this with a kindred spirit who values this sort of thing.