Limit Your Inputs
Our world is filled with noise and ideas that, while extremely helpful, can cause clutter and chaos in our minds when we try to distill them into practical usage in our lives.
Being in charge of your information diet is critical in finding control and stillness in your day-to-day activities while applying what you have learned to something concrete and meaningful.
We are afraid of the silence. We are fearful of looking stupid. We are scared of missing out. We are afraid of being the bad guy who says, ‘Nope, not interested.’
It is okay to say no. It is OK to put down your phone and think silently.
Leaders need time for reflection, self-discovery, and understanding their thoughts, as well as how to apply them effectively into their daily lives.
True power comes from the ability to say no. True freedom comes from the discipline of solitude and fortitude and not being rattled by every notification or every piece of noise our tools and technology give up at a rapid rate every single day.
The world is going to spin whether you disconnect or not. Make yourself and your time the priority, and do not have others at the forefront of your mind.
Replace time doom-scrolling with journaling. Substitute checking your emails every hour by reading a few pages of a new book. Step away from the 24/7 news cycle and go for a walk.
Every one of these habits that our technology has given us can be replaced with behavior that bolsters curiosity, understanding, and, most importantly, time back for ourselves.
Reducing distractions in your immediate environment increases your ability to choose where your attention goes, improves your concentration, bolsters creative thinking, and makes you less susceptible to impulsive acts and poorly thought-out decisions.
To quote Herbert Simon, “A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”
Be content not to know everything. It will pay off with self-mastery, and the skills and ideas you put the time and energy into are now more fleshed out and valuable because you say no to what doesn't matter.
Take charge, focus in, and find your stillness.