Attention

Happy Tuesday my dudes, apologies for the radio silence. I’m still finding my writing rhythm. My attention is scattered these days. Got lots of things going on, and as we all know it’s difficult keeping up with everything. That’s why today I want to talk about attention.

Your attention is your soul’s currency. We even say it without thinking: "pay attention." "Attention deficit."

Your attention isn’t free.

It’s not infinite.

And most of us are broke, bleeding it out to things we never chose. The modern world is built to steal it. With every scroll, every buzz, every ding, every microtransaction. Everyone and everything fighting for our attention.

And what do we do with such a limited asset? We spend it frivolously. We put too much on our plate. We kill ourselves trying to keep up with the commitments we make. Most of you know what I’m talking about.

That feeling of chasing time. Constantly running to the next event, the next milestone, the next dopamine hit. Only to come out the other end asking. “Is that it? Cool. What’s next?”

Just when you think you’ve made it. It hits. Melancholy. What comes after this? Until that thought happens so often you start doubting yourself. I ask myself this question every day:

When will I feel complete?

Then we wonder why we’re tired all the time. Why we can’t focus on what’s in front of us. Why we can’t appreciate the little things. It’s what we’ve been trained to do. React. Respond. Click. Swipe. Disappear. Anything to fill that empty hole.

Stop paying attention.

Start saving it.

Treat it like you would your monetary savings. Give it out quietly and discretely. To things that matter. To real commitments. To your goals.

Spend it wisely.

Sparingly.

Intentionally.

Don’t give it to people who drain you. Don’t give it to the screens that keep you from watching the beauty reality has to offer. Don’t give in to the noise we’ve grown so accustomed to in this modern world. Don’t let the distractions of the world steal your soul’s currency.

Save it for things that matter.

For the art you want to create.

For the people who treat you like family. To nature. To your own self improvement.

Train your brain as if it was the most important muscle in your body because it is. Every time you hold your attention back from something you deem unworthy, pat yourself on the back. Focus on bettering yourself, and make your environment a place which you thrive in. Not a place that drags you down.

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken.

You’re just bankrupt – and it’s time to stop giving out loans to bullshit.

From now on

Don’t pay attention.

Save it.

For when it really matters.

Talk soon - matt