There is a Chinese curse which says “May he live in interesting times.”

Whether you’re a fan of this era or not, you can’t deny that these are definitely interesting times.

Although we’re in the midst of danger, disorder, and uncertainty, we’re also experiencing the most creative time in the history of recorded mankind.

On the one hand, we have at our convenience a wealth of information and incredible technological ability.

On the other, we have a poverty of attention and a general lack of direction.

This might leave many confused, not knowing what to think or what to do.

Days are wasted wondering.

Chunks of life spent disheartened.

Choosing one option means denying all others – creating the fear of making the wrong choice.

Well, stuck in a state of constant desire with so many options before us, it’s only a matter of time until we feel discouraged all together.

Feeling powerless, there’s little chance to make the changes we want.

This is a clear observation in the field of psychology: More is Less.

Knowing of and having so many options to choose from creates the Paradox of Choice.

Ever wonder why the In-n-Out Burger chain is so successful?

They have a very simple menu with only 3 combo options.

By limiting the number of options to choose from, they also limit the stress brought about by the process of decision making.

Their customers don’t experience anxiety, indecision, or dissatisfaction due to the overabundance of options available.

What can we learn from this, and how can we apply it into our own lives?

Well, just by looking around, it’s obvious there’s a lot of “noise” in our lives.

This “noise” can sometimes make it hard to think and make decisions for ourselves.

I mean, it’s clear, right?

Our family wants something from us.

Our friends want something from us.

Our employers want something from us.

Marketers and media stations are paid millions to get something from us.

Everybody and everything, consciously and unconsciously, they want it.

What’s is it?

Attention.

Why?

While having your attention, they have an opportunity to influence you.

Whether it be from a place of love or a place of fear, having access to your mind automatically gives them permission to plant thoughts into your subconscious.

Now, before you panic, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

It’s just how the human organism operates.

Anything we give our attention to has the capacity to have an effect on our character, development, or behavior.

It’s how we grow – how we evolve.

What’s important is that we’re mindful of where our attention goes.

Being that we have conscious control of what to focus on, it’s increasingly important that we’re tuned well into the information that will lead us to a happier, healthier, more prosperous
life.

There’s people out there who genuinely want the best for you.

They want to see you win strictly because they know the more people winning the better culture we can create.

I mean, think about it.

Imagine a world where almost all individuals are happy, healthy, and doing what they thoroughly enjoy.

Isn’t this a world you’d want to be a part of?

A world you’d want your children to grow up in?

In the era we live in, with all our advancements and capabilities, this world is possible.

I like to think it’s no longer a just dream, but actually very practical.

All that we need is to stand united against harmful “noise”.

We must maintain an upright position against those coming from a place of greed and selfishness.

Remember, the only way to get em’ off your back is to stand up.

“Now, you just watch your attention. Where is it going? Watch yourself. As soon as you’ll start watching yourself, your attention, you’ll become more identified with your Spirit.”
– Nirmala Srivastava