Reality Check
How not to be distracted
It’s the political season, and even though I live in Southeast Asia, it seems like news and opinions about the American elections are everywhere. And, they are mostly dominated Friendfeed, which I use mostly to give me a heads up about leading events. And, of course, there’s plenty of other economic news, plus the typical sad story and urban legend that makes the rounds.
In every season, it’s easy enough to be distracted.
Take the election, for example. There are basically four ways that you can make an impact: you can vote, you can contribute, you can try to influence other voters, and you can get involved in the campaign. But if you are a mission-focused person whose purpose is the evangelization of the unreached, I’d bet dollars to doughnuts that you’re not going to get involved in the campaign. And, for me, most of the other three options are unrealistic as well.
I’m not going to donate. Why should I put some of my money toward either campaign which is raking in millions of dollars, when a pittance is given to the unreached? Workers in World A (the least-reached or least-evangelized world) receive an estimated US$27 million per year - one-third of what the Obama campaign raised THIS MONTH. I know where my contributions are going. I’m not going to spend time trying to change peoples’ minds either. Virtually everyone I know already has their mind made up. I have my mind made up as well. In the end, the only impact I’m going to have is with my prayers and my votes.
This can be related to just about anything that can be a distraction. There are loads of things out there trying to grab your time and attention. But the definition of distract is:
- to draw or cause to turn away (from an original position, goal, purpose, direction, association, or interest)
- to draw (sight, mind, attention) to a different object, or compellingly or confusingly attract in divergent directions at once
- to provide amusement or diversion
- to stir up or confuse with conflicting emotions, motives, or unsettling worries: harass, confound
- to disrupt or cause dissension by reason of divergent or conflicting desires, aims or motives.
The thing to remember is that everyone has a Message. They are trying to cut through all the noise and static of other people’s Message to tell you Their Message. But their message may not be your message, and may not be in line with your purpose. The trick to not be distracted is this: ignore the message of other causes unless it is in line with your own.
How not to be distracted: know your own cause, your own purpose, your own message like the back of your hand. Fearlessly TURN OFF everything else.
What is your purpose? Part of your purpose has to do with worshipping God, so you should pay attention to messages from Him (and generally about Him from your worshipping community). Part of your purpose has to do with your family - loving and helping - and so you should pay attention to messages from them. Part of your purpose has to do with what you are shaped for, your God-given purpose, and so you should pay attention to messages about it, and be putting out messages as well.
So in summary - If it doesn’t have to do with your core purpose - time with God, time with family, time for relaxation, time on what you are shaped for - turn it off, delete it, throw it in the trash. It is a distraction that is trying to grab your attention by stirring you up, confusing you, seducing you, amusing you. Don’t let it.
Instead, make some news. Write a blog post about your cause that is original and has to do with your issue. Send an email and ask how you can help someone that’s related to your purpose. Do something rather than reacting to something.
And if you do delete something, don’t fret and don’t worry. Leave it in God’s hands, and get on with what God has given you the talents to do.
In four years there will be another election. But there will never be another moment exactly like THIS moment to do what you COULD do. Don’t waste it.
(Now, if your purpose is the election - go for it. But not with me.)
Additional reading.
- Katya’s Nonprofit Blog has a fantastic post (for all its brevity) on how interruption marketing doesn’t work (because there are too many interruptions these days), and how nonprofits can do something different. This is a great blog that I’ve referenced many times.
- She gives a link to this great page full of PDFs for marketing for non-profits.
- She mentions Seth Godin’s book “Flipping the Funnel” which is not actually found on the great page full of PDFs, but rather here.
- Merlin Mann has several presentations (video and text) on how to get your inbox to zero. These help you get rid of the guilt of pressing that delete button.
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