Cultivating the ability to ignore
Did you know that being able to “strategically ignore” can be really helpful on your path to success? Have you ever thought about the role that ignoring things could play in your life and in your ability to bring big goals to fruition?
It does play an important role! I wanted to bring this to your attention today so that you can take advantage of more energy directed toward your goals, creating more progress for you.
When I say strategically ignore, it is not the same as being ignorant of something. Being ignorant about something indicates you just aren’t aware of it at all. When you are ignorant, it’s not your decision to ignore it; you have no idea about it in the first place. Strategically ignoring something is a decision to send your attention elsewhere.
The word “decision” is a big distinction. It indicates that you are saying: “this is not where I am going to send my attention; I am going to send my attention somewhere else.” You make a “no” decision about one direction and fill that void with a “yes” decision for another direction. We can’t stop at just deciding to ignore, we have to give our mind what to do instead.
There are two keys when you are strategically ignoring. First, you have the awareness – “I could send my attention there but it won’t benefit me to do that.” Second, you choose the new direction – “Where am I going to put my attention that will benefit me and my goals?”
A great example of a time we do this frequently is when driving (if we are good drivers, anyway!). Driving is a critical activity, especially if there is a lot of traffic or the weather is not great. You might hear your phone ring, but you take a few moments to consider whether it is safe to look away from the road. If you’re stopped at a light you might look but if you are on a busy road making a left turn, you will ignore the phone – you will decide on purpose to keep your attention on driving.
Our big goals should be considered critical activities too. Where could ignoring help you reach your goals? Are you spending your attention on things that aren’t helping you reach them?
Do you find you have a big goal that you intend to work on but spend the day doing other activities? When you do get to sit down and start writing for example, do you look at every buzz of your phone or read every email notification that pops up? Be deliberate when you are taking time on a critical activity like a major goal.
Your mind is your most powerful manifesting tool. Until you are choosing moment to moment what you want to give your attention to and what you need to ignore, you are not using the full force of your ability to reach your goals.
It’s my goal to help you get to your goals as efficiently as possible. Do not waste the power of your attention on things that don’t matter! The ability to ignore is an art that can take you much farther than you are today. How can you strategically ignore to allow more force toward your goals, starting today?