focus on yourself, not the noise
“Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.”
“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
— Epictetus
Are you often wondering in what countries has the virus peaked? How’s the progress for the vaccine going on all over the world? What actions the White House is taking to flatten the curve and get a grip over this pandemic?
If yes, and if you find yourself glued to the media and news in order to stay updated day in and day out, then it’s an indicator that you’re just an average person living a mediocre life. Yes, you might find this statement harsh and blunt, but I’m just stating the truth, and as your success guide, I truly want you to become cognizant of this pointless habit and get rid of it altogether.
It’s not a coincidence that if you ask the uber-successful and the elite these same questions, they’ll give you this simple response: I don’t know, that’s not my concern. Don’t get me wrong, this is not self-centredness, this is just a healthy form of selfishness. Unless you’re an elected political leader, an epidemiologist, a researcher, an entrepreneur or a titan in healthcare or a related industry, you have little to no influence over what’s going on in the world, especially the above-mentioned things.
You might be reading, listening to or watching news every day telling yourself that you need to do it because you must “stay informed.” But if you pay close attention to it, you’ll realize that the bulk of the stories have no significant impact on you or your life. It doesn’t offer any information that’s inspiring or uplifting or propels you to take constructive action, on the contrary it only upsets and angers you and takes down the rabbit hole of negativity and despair.
Before it gets too late, stop this insanity. Just stop it. Instead of using your precious minutes to consume incessant news throughout your day, schedule just 10 minutes once a day to go over the latest happenings in your local community and the city via a reliable source or a few dedicated RSS feeds, if you must. That’s more than enough news and media consumption for you.
In today’s world, your time and your attention are the most precious resources that you have, and instead of squandering them by focusing on events and stories that are outside your influence, it’s much wiser to invest them in your own personal development, happiness, and prosperity. Think like the Stoic philosopher Epictetus, and just focus on the things that are in the realm of your control, and let go of the rest.
PS: Learn the success fundamentals and make 2021 your best year yet! Enroll in the Success Essentials online course here.
Also, I encourage you to check out my book “Thriving in the New Normal: An Eight-Week Program to Safeguard Your Holistic Health and Help You Grow Through Adversity” on your favorite digital bookstore. I am confident it’ll be a great resource for you in these challenging and uncertain times.
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