Attention (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Attention

[MidasGirl]

Thank you. Fantastic reminders! One low-value area I've slowly been shifting my attention from, is getting into endless debates on stevepavlina.com. I've been putting that time into more productive writing.

[Izanagi]

Great article! Just what I needed.

[Curtis2011]

I must now shamefully show you where all of my attention has been for the last five minutes....

On creating this image:



Edit: Just finished the article, and enjoyed reading part of the Wikipedia entry on the word "maven" that you used. I've never seen that word before but it has a great meaning.

[Jay S]

Great post Steve--it is very objective.

I agree that it is so easy to become washed around by various distractions and addictions if conscious choices are not made. I think in addition to rating everything in your list, I would suggest picking 3-4 of the things you gave the highest rating to to be your top priorities. This helps narrow your focus even more. Great exercise and article.

[invisiblehouses]

If you had used your time differently during the past 5 years, you could have an extra million dollars in the bank. Another path might have led you to travel through dozens of different countries. And still another path might have you looking at a very fit and sculpted body in the mirror right now.

Ever read something that almost knocks the wind out of you because it's the truth and you know it and there's just no way around it?

My attention has been wasted on unworthy garbage for most of my life. I haven't done a full inventory yet of the things that I should be spending time and attention on, but I'm pretty sure that Facebook, local news, national news, TV, politics, blogging and Twitter ain't on that list.

I guess I need to go do some pushups or something.

(Now playing: "Five Years" by David Bowie.)

[Jake Birkett]

Good article thanks, a good reminder.

I was talking to a coworker yesterday and I told him that in 1999 I printed out "I am in control of my life" on a sheet of paper and signed it, and it's now in the middle of my dreamboard to remind me that I can choose: what I do with my time, what work I do for money, what I eat, who I hang out with, how I manage my finances, how much exercise I do etc. It's a pretty important thing to figure out in my opinion. I'm already teaching my sons this.

I've made a decision recently to change things up a bit. It feels empowering to say "hey, I want to change my situation and I'm going to do this and see how it turns out".

[cacheborn]

Good article. I think it can also be classified under time management.

The first thing I did after reading it was cancel RSS subscriptions to blogs that I was not really interested in. For instance, Forbes blog that sends out 40-50 articles every day! I have a different opinion about reading, though. For me reading fiction is as important as non-fiction, because I am a writer. Reading fiction allows me to inspect different styles, themes etc from a writer's point of view.

[Iggs]

That list was too long and kind of depressing actually, because it made me realize that I could be really interested in a lot of things but am unwilling to sacrifice my right to be lazy in order to pursue any of them.

I find the opposite, that dropping all one's needs except for the bare minimum (food, shelter) and then focusing on creatively solving those problems (how can I avoid paying rent again next year? what addictions can i learn the most from? how can I help those around me be content so that I can get a resource I need from them?) I think that line of thinking suits me better.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by MidasGirl

One low-value area I've slowly been shifting my attention from, is getting into endless debates on stevepavlina.com.

Ironically, when I read that post, what occurred to me was that I should stop spending time on Steve's blog + forums.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Ironically, when I read that post, what occurred to me was that I should stop spending time on Steve's blog + forums.

That's pretty much been my conclusion as well, and now I am a bit more disciplined with painting and writing in my spare time, and then some time spent here, but not hours and hours like before.

This place is meant for us to come to and grow and then LEAVE when we don't really need it anymore, or have as a resource when we do need to visit again and gain some new perspective or information to mull over. That sounds colder than how I mean it, but that's the jist of it.

[dan1529]

Thanks for a highly useful post this morning.

I'll share a thought: Now that I've retired from full-time corporate work, I've found it very interesting how complex and confusing the attention allocation equation can be. The decisions are actually easier when you have a job that takes up most of your time--then you only need to decide how to allocate attention in your (limited) free time.

When your entire day is up to you, it can be quite a bit more difficult to allocate your attention effectively. I'm still learning this, even though I've been "jobless" for more than two years now.

Of course when you have a job working for others, you've actually given over the vast majority of your attention to your boss or company. But on the face of it, it *seems* like you're left with an easier decision on how to allocate the rest of your attention.

PS: To @elucidate and @Acting Like Godot, great conclusions. How ironic (and unselfish) is it to write a post that causes your readers to allocate their attention elsewhere?
_____________________________
Visit me at Casual Kitchen!
Cook More. Think More. Spend Less.

[James81]

I would like to toy with the idea that the idea that "attention is a limited resource" is actually a limiting decision.

(I'm not saying that that is true, I'm just saying I'd like to toy with that idea for a moment.)

Under that idea, then, does it really matter what you cast your attention on?

[Alan!]

Steve, this is the best article I have read from you since... a long time.

Good work. It's always enlightening when someone can distill a concept down into semantical language (which is not always as simple to do as you'd think!).

I'm excited and hopeful for future generations that these life solutions are documented.

Alan!

[JoePike]

Steve...I both love you and hate you for this article.

[jayh]

Originally Posted by James81

I would like to toy with the idea that the idea that "attention is a limited resource" is actually a limiting decision.

(I'm not saying that that is true, I'm just saying I'd like to toy with that idea for a moment.)

Under that idea, then, does it really matter what you cast your attention on?

I had this same thought actually. I think it only makes a difference in what you want to experience (in this lifetime). If you want to view this along with a belief in reincarnation, then perhaps everything is deserving of attention to some degree. It only changes what you experience in the "now".

[James81]

Originally Posted by jayh

I had this same thought actually. I think it only makes a difference in what you want to experience (in this lifetime). If you want to view this along with a belief in reincarnation, then perhaps everything is deserving of attention to some degree. It only changes what you experience in the "now".

Good point.

I think classifying what is more "deserving" of your attention is a good recipe for creating imbalance within your emotions. That is, when you cast your attention on the things you feel deserve your attention, you're going to feel good about it. But when things take your attention away from those things, you're going to feel bad about it because you're not doing what you feel you *should* be doing.

Is watching a movie more or less important than making a business deal? I suppose it depends on what you want (which is what Steve was saying).

[jennyfluteplayer]

If you still insist on using the “I don’t know what to do” excuse, then drop to the floor and do push-ups until you think of something that’s a better use of your time than doing push-ups. I suspect your brain will come up with a few ideas very shortly.

I was deep in reading concentration until this point knocked a smile onto my face. My version is that I've been working in the cube for too long (push-ups) and I've not bothered to come up with anything better. I do finally see that I'm equating my position to physical torture...

[smartile]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Attention

My favorite line...

To live consciously, you must be the one to clarify and decide what matters most to you, and then you must discipline yourself to focus your attention on those items by deliberately withdrawing your attention from lesser concerns. Don’t expect life to do this for you. Don’t expect others to help you much. And never, ever whine that you don’t know what to do. It’s your job to figure it out — the task sits squarely on your shoulders. To complain that it’s too burdensome will only make it seem harder.

...and I completely agree. Get a grip, gain clarity and then get going!

Steve

[roxyruby]

I just wanted to say thank-you Steve this is a brilliant idea and very helpful

[Dev]

Originally Posted by smartile

My favorite line...



...and I completely agree. Get a grip, gain clarity and then get going!

Steve

And I have 2 favorite lines from this post:

1. A significant part of living consciously includes deciding what is deserving of your attention and to what extent as well as deciding what isn’t deserving of your attention.

2. If you give your attention to items you can’t control, you’re essentially wasting your time. It’s more intelligent to focus on what you can control and influence. Then your influence will expand over time, and your power will increase.

[cacheborn]

Originally Posted by elucidate

This place is meant for us to come to and grow and then LEAVE when we don't really need it anymore, or have as a resource when we do need to visit again and gain some new perspective or information to mull over. That sounds colder than how I mean it, but that's the jist of it.

Yes, I agree. The forum is not meant to be a source of a new addiction. That would be defeating the purpose. It sounds colder but it's true. You cannot achieve personal growth if you spend all the time on the forum. Real world waits for you AFK (Away from the Keyboard.)

[Shadowstorm]

Great post! It made me think a lot of where I'm focusing my attention.

It even inspired me to create a small and very, very simple application to easier manage the list.
I thought I'd share it with the world, so feel free to download it if you're interested

Download link:
Attention Prioritization.rar - File Shared from Box.net - Free Online File Storage

Side note:
I inverted Steve's number description, just to make it easier for me to write the program :P
It might be worth mentioning that it requires you to have Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 installed.

[Misscpb1]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Attention

What a great post, just what I needed to hear. Thank you Steve.

[Scott Lipton]

Fantastic, gets right to the root of life/time management. Reminds me of the Power of Less and some material from The Inner Game of Work:

"It is by focus of attention that we make contact with everything in our world and by this means alone that things become knowable and understandable to us. Thus, attention is critical to all learning, understanding, and proficiency of action. It is only when we are giving our full attention to what we are doing that we can bring all of our resources to bear effectively. Why? Because when we are giving full attention, self-interference is neutralized. In the fullness of focus, there is no room for Self 1′s fears or doubts."

Thanks Steve, I'll be rereading this one for some time to come. Very important stuff.

[danas]

great post.
thanks for the reminder

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Ironically, when I read that post, what occurred to me was that I should stop spending time on Steve's blog + forums.

Well yes, this can be a terrificly productive thing to do.

There's nothing specifically wrong or bad about this forum, in fact I think this is a very good forum with cool people on it, people who I consider myself friends with and would like to meet if I'm in their area, but forums in general are often not the best use of our time. Sometimes.

Steve, I enjoy the timing of your articles. I've been thinking a lot about where I put my attention this past month and then you go and write a good article about it. Funny!

I'm about to cut ties with a "good" buddy of mine I've had for about 10 years. I thought he would grow up more now that he is married and has a child, and he has grown up to some degree, but he's still just the ass he has always been.

He's the only friend I've ever had where people ask me why I bother spending time with him. The only friend I've had where I needed to try to justify to others (and myself) why I tolerate some of his behavior. He doesn't bring out the best in me when we're together, in fact, I've sometimes needed to remind myself that I don't want to break laws when he suggests some activity for us to do.

So... screw it. I feel like I've had a mini-epiphany. I have plenty of other friends, none of which are flat-out embarrassing to hang out with. We got into an argument last night for two hours over something he said "as a joke" to my girlfriend, and I'm just really sick of his poor logic he uses to justify his actions. I'm telling him to take a hike, indefinitely.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Well yes, this can be a terrificly productive thing to do.

There's nothing specifically wrong or bad about this forum, in fact I think this is a very good forum with cool people on it, people who I consider myself friends with and would like to meet if I'm in their area, but forums in general are often not the best use of our time. Sometimes.

Steve, I enjoy the timing of your articles. I've been thinking a lot about where I put my attention this past month and then you go and write a good article about it. Funny!

I'm about to cut ties with a "good" buddy of mine I've had for about 10 years. I thought he would grow up more now that he is married and has a child, and he has grown up to some degree, but he's still just the ass he has always been.

He's the only friend I've ever had where people ask me why I bother spending time with him. The only friend I've had where I needed to try to justify to others (and myself) why I tolerate some of his behavior. He doesn't bring out the best in me when we're together, in fact, I've sometimes needed to remind myself that I don't want to break laws when he suggests some activity for us to do.

So... screw it. I feel like I've had an epiphany. I have plenty of other friends, none of which are flat-out embarrassing to hang out with. We got into an argument last night for two hours over something he said "as a joke" to my girlfriend, and I'm just really sick of his poor logic he uses to justify his actions. I'm telling him to take a hike, indefinitely.

*ahem*

OMFG! DAFFY IS BACK!!!!!!!

[Daffy Duck]

I'm thinking it would look nicer to have "Posts: 3,000" under my name, instead of leaving it at 2,665, which is just an odd (as in, weird) number to go out on. Though, 3 is an "odd" (as in, odd) number as well.

And I was never too far away.

[RN-Calgary]

Almost spooky reading posts that resonance so much with your own current focus areas of development.

One thing that have helped me controlling attention is that I have two computers on my desk. My "kick ass" work computer with 2 21" wide-screens and my 14 inch 3 year old dell laptop. All my web surfing and e-mails I do on the laptop. Therefore I am not tempted to switch into unnecessary e-mailing when I am working.

Steve if you read this:

By the way one of my favorite hikes is parking at Lake Louise and head up to Lake Agnes. If you have time try to get in to Lake O'Hare as well. The third cool area is actually Kananaskis. HW 40 has a lot of good hikes and when you reach the peaks you can see pretty much to Eastern Canada (well maybe not completely true but it seems so).