“The child who is not focused on the dance will be distracted by the crowd.” – African Proverb
These days, it’s not war, hunger, or poverty that’s stealing our progress—it’s distraction. Everywhere you turn, something is calling your name. Notifications. Messages. Endless scrolling. Before you know it, the day is gone, and you wonder what you really achieved.
In our parents’ time, wealth was measured in land, cattle, or cash. But today? The real treasure is attention. If someone can hold your focus, they can sell to you, shape your mind, and even control your decisions. That’s why big tech companies are not just competing for your money—they are fighting for your eyes, your ears, and your mind.
Attention has become the new currency.
Our Brains Are Not Wired for This
Let’s be honest—this world we’re living in is not the one our minds were built for. Our ancestors spent time watching the skies, tilling the land, telling stories around the fire. Life was slower. Focus came more naturally. Today, we are bombarded with more information in one day than some of our grandparents got in a whole year.
And yet, we still expect ourselves to be sharp, creative, and productive. But how can we grow when our focus is scattered like seeds thrown in the wind?
The Hidden Cost of Distraction
Every moment of distraction costs us something. Maybe it’s the delay in finishing your school assignment. Maybe it’s the business idea you’ve kept postponing. Or the book you’ve been trying to write since last year. It adds up—bit by bit—until one day you look back and ask, “Where did my time go?”
Distraction is not always loud. Sometimes it’s gentle, disguised as entertainment, comfort, or escape. But over time, it robs us of our potential.
Like the child who leaves the dance to follow the crowd, we end up missing our own rhythm.
Reclaiming Your Focus
Reclaiming focus in this digital age is like farming during harmattan—it takes extra effort. But it can be done. Here are a few simple but powerful practices:
- Guard your morning – How you start your day matters. Before picking your phone, take a few minutes to set your intention for the day. Pray, journal, meditate—whatever grounds you.
- Design your environment – If your phone is your biggest distraction, don’t keep it beside you while working. Use apps that block social media during focus hours.
- Learn the power of saying ‘No’ – Not every notification, meeting, or event deserves your presence. Learn to choose what really aligns with your goals.
- Feed your focus – Read books, listen to deep conversations, spend time with people who challenge and inspire you.
- Rest properly – You can’t focus when you’re running on empty. Even Jesus took time to rest. Why not you?
Final Thoughts
In a world where everyone wants your attention, the most powerful thing you can do is take it back. Choose what to look at, what to listen to, and where to spend your mental energy. The child who learns to focus on the dance, no matter the noise around, becomes the master of the rhythm.
Your attention is your power. Don’t give it away freely.
