We all know our attention spans haven't shrunk.
There's just a hell of a lot of stuff out there we can occupy ourselves with, and it can be overwhelming. To the point where we might jump from thing to thing just because we're afraid we're not doing the right things to be successful.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of ways to make money online, and we feel incapable of finding the way that works for us.
Forget the bells and whistles, most of the time I just want to be happy and comfortable.
When you do that math, that doesn't amount to millions of sales and sold-out warehouses. Instead, it could be hundreds, if not thousands, of sales a month. A comfortable living indeed.
But with distractions aplenty, how do we get from where we are to where we want to be?
How do we prioritize the truly important things when faced with a large number of options?
Your Habits and Goals
On a basic level, the key includes your regular habits, which should be based on your own goals in life. Not the goals of your family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. Your goals.
For instance, if you want to be a writer, you'd better be writing something, anything, regularly. Music Producer? You better be writing underlicks whenever you're not writing and producing full tracks.
It doesn't matter what it is; you'd better be practicing your craft regularly.
You have to be doing the things the ideal version of yourself would be doing.
There's no magic date, time, space, or point at which it would be perfect to do the things you're putting off. I know, they are probably numerous, but not doing anything about it isn't helping you.
The longer you put it off, the longer you put off the life you were meant to be living.
Of course, it won't be easy. You'll stumble, succeed, fail outright, and still have great success over the long run if you focus on your habits and goals.
The things you do, and the things you want.
When it comes to your goals, they should be guided by that childlike wonder. Life is meant to be enjoyed, but it also comes with lessons and opportunities for growth.
I swear to you. If you follow that in-built curiosity, you'll become unstoppable. You'd be a beast. Knowing everything you need to be successful.
No one can give it to you, and no one can take it from you. It is solely your power.
Build good habits and set SMART goals.
Remember: You Are What You Consume
A key idea to consider when seeking focus in the modern world is that you are what you consume.
Not just the food you eat, but also the media you consume. The mind of someone who watches mainstream media day in and day out is not fully primed for its potential, compared to someone who is constantly consuming educational media, such as courses and tutorials.
Something can also be said about the distinction between active and passive consumption.
Where one is a vegetable, and the other is a participant in the information exchange.
At the same time, it's okay to have your guilty pleasures, but much like emotion, you don't want them to consume you. Like most things in life, it's all about seeking a healthy balance. You are only human after all.
Yet, you still want to remain vigilant and aware of the things you are consuming.
Always questioning the source and their intentions.
It's fine to be entertained, but you don't want that entertainment to turn you into a permanent vegetable. Think actively and critically about the things you consume, focus on your habits and goals, and everything will be alright.
As a mom of a girl who’s really passionate about music and dance and so many other things, reading this means a lot. I’ve been trying to model for her what it looks like to pursue something with heart and consistency, even if it’s in small, daily ways. And she inspires me everyday to rediscover my childlike wonder and active curiosity to develop my own passions outside of my 9-5. Your words about habit over hype and joy over pressure really resonated with me and made me think differently about how to set and achieve goals. Thank you Idris Elijah and enjoy your weekend!
This was a powerful reminder that we’re not necessarily distracted, we’re just sifting through a lot of noise to see what really matters. I really appreciated the gentle nudge back toward habits and personal goals. It made me pause and reevaluate whether my daily actions are in line with the life I actually want. We really can have too many tabs open, both mentally and emotionally. It’s time for a content diet, one I’ve been thinking about for some time. Thanks for all the wisdom and motivation Idris!