The Battle for Attention
Everything competes for our attention—even our own attention. But the many things competing for it are not what’s important.
My Past: Lost in Distractions
A long time ago, I used to spend three hours each morning on a game called One Punch Man. Later on, it was Bleach. Mornings would fly by so fast—sending the kids to school, taking a long crap, doing the daily game quests, and farming levels—that there really wasn’t any time for much else.
The Present: A Shift to Laser Focus
Fast forward to the present, when I’m overwhelmed with far more tasks and responsibilities than I should have time for. Getting through each day now requires a laser focus to analyze, prioritize, and pick the few things to concentrate on. Playing audio at 2x speed is a blessing, and if I could, I’d play my messages at 3x. This is the difference between a vacant mind and one that strives for clarity.
Vacation Time: A Paradox of Freedom
It’s funny how, during vacation time, I feel burdened to feel unburdened. Having too much time on my hands feels wrong, and I question whether my chosen activities are truly for my betterment or not.
Digital Flyers: Ignoring the Noise
While I can see how push notifications and timeline feed ads can influence a vacant mind, to me, they’re just digital flyers. I’m like, “Get outta my face, dammit!”
Facing Problems Head-On
I’ve come to realize that the best way to deal with problems and obstacles is head-on. When I analyze my behaviors, the only reason I had time to read tweets, passively scroll, or download apps I didn’t need was because I was either putting something important on snooze or stuck in a refractory period between tasks.
Observing Others: Lessons in Work and Life
For those who want to succeed, there’s actually a lot of time. Never complain that time isn’t enough. If you weed out all these brain-rot activities (on that note, it’s funny how some of these filler ads or interstitials try to appear educational or valuable—just to give you moral justification for straying from your true commitments), you’ll find more than enough time. I’ve found that the less I stray, the less I half-ass things. Meet with your coworkers outside of work hours, during work hours, or on work trips. Observe how they work. Not just coworkers—observe other friends and acquaintances when you can. Study their work ethics. Is there something you can model after? Or something you realize isn’t good and want to avoid? Or did they perhaps give you an idea on how to better live your life? There was this colleague I used to work under when I was an intern. Now, she’s been delegated to assist me. But honestly, I’d rather not have her assistance. It just makes things more inefficient and complicated. I learned the importance of observing people from my boss, whom I deeply respect. He taught me how to understand people’s psyches based on how they tackle life—how they interact with others, manage their time, handle problems, surprises, and challenges, and how they respond to work in their personal time. What I learned about this colleague—whom I previously thought was meticulous and driven—was that it was just a front. In reality, everything else in her life was more important than work.
The Rat Race: Are We Stuck in a Trance?
In the hamster wheel of most people’s lives, the rat race, I wonder how many truly stop to ponder: Why do they exist? What do they exist for? Did they used to exist for something they’ve since forgotten? Are they stuck in a trance?
My Transformation: From Empty to Limitless
For me, I used to exist for mobile games, the super-rare characters gained from in-game gachas and raid quests, hitting the ball hard during weekend tennis, getting drunk, false intimacies, sugar-coated empty promises, and trying new snacks. It wasn’t much of an existence, really. No wonder, a few years ago, I found myself overweight—borderline obese, actually—with high cholesterol, unattractive, and powerless in life. Now, I exist for the new life and career challenges that push me to improve and level up, constantly becoming a better version of myself. Sports are no longer a weekend escape but a daily commitment. It’s not about hitting the ball hard anymore; it’s about hitting it accurately and fulfilling the purpose of winning. I’ve cut alcohol because I’d rather keep my senses sharp to enjoy learning new things while chilling out. I’ve learned to love myself, and I’ve noticed how that has changed my outlook on others. I’ve learned that I drive my own life. I create my destiny. My capabilities and success do not depend on others. I’ve learned to take charge, but I’ve also learned when to do my best and leave the rest to the laws of the universe. Being able to jump up five steps at the age of 41 showed me that we are not defined by norms. We make our own rules. Our potential is infinite. I am limitless.
Poop Time = Think Time
I encourage you to stop for a few moments to reflect on your life and yourself. Refrain from taking your phone to the toilet. Or just put it aside if you absolutely must. Poop time is think time. See where your mind leads you. You might think of ideas, motivations, or remember something you previously left on the back burner. I actually come up with many of my video ideas during poop time. What if you also used this time to think about how you’ll spend your day? Or how today should look? It’s incredible how just setting the right intentions can affect the outcome.
The Power of Intention
Affirmations with intention send signals to your subconscious mind. Prayers should be prayed with intention. Even if you’ve been used to what you now know are trivial activities, try putting more intention into them. Let me know how it changes the outcomes of the daily things you already do.
Your Turn: Reflect, Act, and Create
And if it works this way, what else would you like to change or create? Let me know in the comments below!
