More On Distractions....SQUIRREL part 2

I don’t know why, but the last blog I posted bothered me. Not that I thought it wasn’t any good, or that it wasn’t helpful, but that something needed to be added. The more I re-read it, the more I thought, something is missing.

So I went back to ole faithful, Webster’s Dictionary. I looked up the word Distraction and it basically said it was the act of distracting or the state of being distracted. So I looked at distract. Distract is defined as: to turn aside, to divert, to direct or draw to a different object or in a different direction, to stir up and confuse with conflicting emotions or motives.

Those definitions are great and we all know what’s a distraction or the act of being distracted. But I found something fascinating about the definition. The word dis is actually a Latin prefix which means apart. The word tract is actually from the Latin word tractus which means, to draw or pull – more toward pull. So when you put them together the word distract is actually from the Latin word distractus, which means to draw apart.

I had to give you the grammar lesson so you’d understand my point. We are each being tractus - to draw or pull, toward something. Our goals, our dreams, our jobs, families…whatever it is that we’re going toward there is always going to be something that will try to distractus - pull us apart from it.

I’ve set a goal to produce a series of lessons that will help people develop people. A plan, so to speak, that will help Managers’, Teachers’, Preachers’ develop people who want more from life and are interested in being more. Everyday I go to work on this project I’m pulled by other things that may or may not actually require my attention. I’m the one that decides whether I’ll allow this “distraction” to pull me away from the project or not.

Just like Dug, I may look at the issue, but like I said before, I don’t have to chase it. So, when I look away from what my eyes were originally focused on and I allow myself to make that determination of whether or not I’ll take off after it. I’ve got to be sure of what it is I’m about to chase; that’s why I identify it.

Remember folks, we do have an enemy that wants to destroy us. He’s not our friend and if there is something you’re being pulled to that is or will be good for you or your family, the enemy is going to try his best to pull you away. That’s why it’s important that you can identify the distraction.

I think one of the problems with us is we don’t identify the distractions and judge it before we take off after it. We just take off after it and end up in something we had no business and the goal or dream we were working on is left in the past…incomplete.

My words of advice, if you chose to take them, are again to look at the distraction, identify it and make a decision…usually the distraction isn’t that important and can be ignored. Stay focused on your goals folks.

Just more thoughts on a page: