In the grand scheme of intangible curation, I find that tailoring what you gift your attention to revolutionary yet inexplicably simple. Simple does not mean easy; rather, a clear path to use as a guideline in everything that you do and come across. It’s ultimately an opportunity to take back control of your own life (even if you haven’t realized you’ve lost control).
Let’s discuss the art of being picky with what enters the gates of your conscious mind, to protect what may enter the subconscious. This is the principle of selective attention.
Rebooting Thought Patterns
This notion of selective attention can apply to many situations, whether it’d be:
- Working on slowly filtering out the opinions of others to regain true independent thinking. There may be many cooks in the kitchen but there is only one chef.
- Editing your environment to seamlessly mesh with your season of life and focus.
- Understanding that while everyone might physically see you, they may not always be granted access beyond that. Knowing this does not mean isolating or carrying yourself arrogantly. I’ve found best practice for me is to approach new people and experiences kindly, with observing eyes and a parachute on fleeting emotions. (side note- perhaps don’t take my advice, but when it comes to certain people, I use this idea of “they are guilty until proven innocent”, meaning until they earn your respect and deserve your time)
- Evaluating how you spend your free time. How does it affect sleep, work, cognitive function, self-esteem? Refine, refine, refine.
“We are what we are because of the vibrations of thought that we pick up and register through the stimuli of our daily environment.” – Napoleon Hill
Look at an area of your life right now that feels as though it drains your energy. Narrowing your attention just might be the answer.
There are many psychological theories surrounding selective attention. I am not a psychologist, but as the angel on your shoulder I am here to encourage you to lean into what fuels your goals while drowning out unnecessary noise. They say “ignorance is bliss” for a reason. With social media and the dopamine carnival funhouse that is your daily life, curated consumption is the cure. In other words, clear out the bullshit to make room for creativity. When was the last time you did something creative? Ponder on this, I know I did…
What You and I Can Do Now
If you’re like me and truly cannot pull out a journal every single day to write, I suggest making a daily mental entry:
– What deserves your greatest attention today?
– What are you open to add or keep a closer eye on?
– What can you disregard to create more brain space to focus on what is important to you?
Try it, it’s free!
XOXO, Isa <3
Wanna know more?
Let’s talk.
Martha Beck quote came from an incredible podcast with Mel Robbins found here