If we claim that we will become Virat Kohli if we practise cricket for long enough, say 10 hours a day, will we become one? The answer is a certain “No”. But yes, we will definitely become better at cricket. This is universally and psychologically accepted that whatever we practise, we become better at it. 

The same applies to distractions in our life. We have practised being distracted all our lives. Hence, we will eventually become better at it.  

The Practise of Distraction

When we try to focus on our purpose or try to do something with attention, we are often distracted by our surroundings. For example, if we try to study we may be distracted by the notifications on our mobile phones, or may be called upon by someone in our families. These are all distractions. What are they actually trying to do with us? 

All of these technologies and other surroundings are trying to deviate us from our path and more specifically, from our purpose. It is often seen that in a group of a few friends, if one tries to do something good and wants to earn fame, he would definitely be discouraged by other friends in the family. They will try to convince him that his purpose is not worth it or whatever. All of this implies that we are practising distractions.   

Over a period of time, our brain will usually adapt to it and will begin getting distracted. We must know that practice shapes our abilities and behaviours. Feed your mind with good behaviours and possibilities that encourage you to rise above others and take a step forward. 

Rewiring Our Minds   

Just the way we have practised distracting our minds over ages, we can practise training our minds to focus on the positive and prioritise our own interests and well-being. It requires telling a “No” when you feel that your “Yes” won’t work out for you and may probably hurt you. 

We can understand that this is not an overnight transformation. No habit can be changed overnight. This is similar to the fact that you cannot get a promotion in a job right the next day you are hired. 

Think about the soldiers at the border. All of them get hard training in the pursuit of getting some promotions later in their job and earning more respect and wealth. Some of the soldiers then sacrifice their lives after extensive training, all in pursuit of victory and honour. Their journey was not easy, nor was it a sudden transformation. 

Some martyrs have won various medals based on their performance over years while others are already martyred while expecting one for themselves. Similarly, to win medals in our lives, we must practise what we want to achieve. If we desire a focused and disciplined mind, we must practise focus and discipline.

Struggling to Say “NO”?

The first step towards a more reliable journey for your mind is learning to say “NO” to the continuous and irrelevant demands. However, this is not this easy. Our minds have been trained over years, or even decades, for being distracted and following every thought and desire. Thus, it has formed a habit to follow the mind. 

We can say that we do not have the strength to tell our brain a “NO” and tend to follow everything that it wants. If we practise telling a “NO” or avoiding our benefiting demands, we will develop a habit. When we do not have the strength to develop this habit, we can borrow it from the people who have mastered this art. Listen to those people, follow their suggestions, and with time you will notice the difference. 

Building Strength Through Association

There’s a saying in India which means one dirty fish in a lake makes all others suffer. The same applies in the opposite sense as well. If there’s even one in your group who is ambitious, business-minded, and has a passion to do something big in life, you will surely be influenced by his words and behaviours. You will notice and listen to everything that he tells and would want to follow it in your life too.

Therefore, the power of association cannot be overstated. You must surround yourself with the same people that you want to become like. For example, if you want to be disciplined and focused, you should be associated with the same people. Their daily gestures will help you to develop these habits and change your fate.

Satisfaction from first “NO” 

As we immerse ourselves in a fruitful environment and tell our first “NO”, we experience like we have reached a milestone and finally succeeded in saying something we were afraid of. This gives you a sense of achievement that “Yes, you did it for yourself this time without thinking about others”. 

This signifies the beginning of a new pattern wherein you will not be bound to always satisfy others while depriving yourself. Your mind will be trained to ignore the distractions and follow the purpose. This is a journey that is completed mile by mile, overcoming obstacles one by one. 

Practise Well-Being         

The primary goal is to train our mind to practise our well-being and self-interests. This does not mean that we become selfish. But this is to ensure that when we do not feel it right, we must deny it. For this to come into practice, we need to know what we want in our lives. Once our purpose is defined, we will be able to focus on our aim and will work towards it. 

Gradually over time, we will know what is desired and what is not. We will be able to ignore the waste and let in what is right. Anything that brings us closer to the goal will become desirable and everything else will be ignored by us. Hence, we will be able to make conscious choices based on our own interests.   

We need our minds to be rigid, flexible, and focused. The journey is not at all easy. It carries thorns along the way, you will have to listen to criticisms and the things like, “You have become selfish”. But it will all be worth it. You actually cannot survive in this world where others think about themselves first and try to get their priorities above you. You also need to be one among them, while practising sacredness. 

This journey will need associations with those who have already covered this path successfully such as your elders, or gurus. They can help you unlearn distractions and make it a habit of learning self-interests. By practising focus, discipline, and mindful decision-making, we can rewire our minds to serve our best interests. Over time, these small steps will lead to significant transformations. Hence, allowing us to achieve our goals and live more fulfilling lives.