Lesson 1: Traction and Distraction

We all have a vision for how our lives should be. To accomplish this vision we then create a list of the right things that we should do. However, in order to live the life we want, we should not only do the right things but should also stop doing the wrong things that are likely to take us down the wrong road. We already have an idea of what the right things to do are, what we don’t know yet is how to stop getting distracted. Before going further let’s try and understand what distraction and its opposite, traction means.

Distraction means to draw away from the mind. In other words, distraction is anything that prevents us from progressing in the direction that is required for our goals. Traction, on the other hand, means to draw or pull. They are actions that draw us towards what we want in life. While distraction leads us away from our goals, traction helps us accomplish them.

All behaviours, whether they reflect distraction or traction, are prompted by triggers, both internal and external. The internal triggers are the cues that we receive from within, for instance, cold, hunger, thirst, need for affection, and so on. External triggers are the cues present in our environment. They include triggers like phone notifications, or objects like television, and even other people such as co-workers.

The main challenge we face when wanting to accomplish goals is that the world is filled with distractions. Moreover, they have always been a part of our lives. In earlier times distractions were caused by radios, then comic books, now they are items like television and smartphones. Albeit, nowadays distractions are far easier to find and are further aided by the vast amount of information that is available and the fast speed at which it can be accessed and spread.

Researchers tell us that attention and focus are the raw materials of human creativity. Socially, close friendships are seen as essential to psychological and physical health. Of course, none of these areas would flourish if we are distracted. The reason why distractions are so inviting is that we are compelled to reach for things we supposedly need but have no real requirement of. For example, we don’t really need to reply to every single message instantly, or see the latest trending news immediately; but we still go ahead and do it anyway. Therefore, what we need to do is be indistractable if we wish to live the life we want to.

In this insight, we shall look at various ways we can use to master