The biggest thing that gets in the way of people doing at a time is distraction. This happens because people allow themselves to get distracted and for a fact you can always find a distraction if you are looking for one.
According to the Centre’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 3 main types of distraction are visual, manual, and cognitive. The number one cause of distraction is not what is happening outside of us, but rather distraction begins from within. The vast majority of our distraction sources are boredom, uncertainty, fatigue, loneliness, anxiety, stress which triggers our distraction and we seek to escape from these discomforts.
A distraction often is the only thing that consoles us from miseries and yet it is itself the greatest of our miseries. Distractions aren’t always a bad thing as it depends on timing and type. But because of our weakness to attachments of anything we fall to distraction of everything. The temptations to distractions usually come in through the door that has been deliberately left open. Strangely for many there is a difficulty to identify something as distraction because they do not realise what is distracting them and from what. A state of preparedness in defense forces knows there can be times when the enemy sends distractions they never look like distractions until they are finished distracting you.
As adults it’s high time we realize besides one’s own mind there is a concerted attempt by other trained minds employed to divert attention away, towards other thoughts or behaviors'. When distractions are manifold it is best to remember what you’re supposed to be doing that is why it is said ‘focus’ comes from eliminating destructions that has nothing to do with your goals. If we are captivated with purpose, less likely to be distracted by a frequent habit of comparison.
Gurbani recognizes our failures and says “ha-umai vich sabh jag ba-uraanaa…. “The entire world has gone insane in egotism. In the love of duality, it wanders deluded by doubt. The mind is distracted by great anxiety; no one recognizes one’s own self. Occupied with their own affairs, their nights and days are passing away” SGGS Ang159
“ih manoo-aa khin na tikai…. “This mind does not hold still, even for an instant. Distracted by all sorts of distractions, it wanders around aimlessly in the ten directions. It works differently for some “I have found the Perfect Guru, through great good fortune; He has given me the Mantra of the Lord’s Name, and my mind has become quiet and tranquil. || 1 || O Lord, I am the slave of the True Guru”. SGGS Ang170
None can deny the distraction by thoughts of Maya and worldly attachment. Gurbani further states “chit chalai vit jaavno saakat dol dolaa-ay…. “The consciousness of the wicked, faithless cynics wanders around in search of transitory wealth, unstable and distracted. Searching outside of themselves, they are ruined; the object of their search is in that sacred place within the home of the heart. The self-willed manmukhs, in their ego, miss it; the Gurmukhs receive it in their laps. SGGS Ang63
A prayer for all… overcome distracting yourself from your self and stay focused on God to hear His voice than the noise of the world. Empty our lives of any lies and false securities but trust only His way of life to cleanse the mind making it peaceful and joyful.
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