By Lois Hewitt

Struggling. Seems like it is the human condition.  I vowed at the beginning of this year that I would get more focused on the important things in my life. I decided that time was getting shorter and I wanted to do more enriching things.

I started using an online Bible study which has been wonderful, I started an intentional prayer journal (not just “I pray for everyone. Amen), I made workable cleaning lists (daily, monthly and half-year), my menu planning and grocery shopping plan works great, a journal/planner that is top notch and I scheduled my work to fit my new organized life.  Sounds great doesn’t it. It has taken a lot of work and dedication.

But guess what?  I’m still struggling…to focus, to read my Bible, to write with consistency, to be as productive as I want to be.

How can I have all these tools and still not be doing the things I want to be doing?  I’m not going to blame it all on external circumstances because I know I am to blame but we all have to realize that there are a lot of distractions out there that want to keep us from focusing.

I am horrible at looking at social media for too long every day.  It’s a distraction that I am starting to think is way more dangerous than one would think. I barely focus anymore. I can’t read an entire chapter in one sitting. When I’m doing things, I’m thinking about the next things I’m going to do.

So here I am trying to live intentionally and I’m intentionally sabotaging my mind.  Television used to do the same thing. I used to turn on the television when I woke up and not turn it off until I went to bed.

Maybe I thought the noise would drown out the depressive thoughts.  Maybe I thought the noise would keep my anxiety at bay.  Maybe I thought it would keep my mind off my anger.

All the distractions really did was arode away at my concentration skills (which have always been sketchy at best).

It is possible to “do all the right things” and still be struggling. Distractions come in many forms and many seem innocent enough. 

So today if you are feeling distracted or not motivated, you are not alone. Just look around at everyone on their phones…while driving (very scary), while shopping, in lines, walking, just about everywhere. We have become slaves to our devices.  They now own us.

Today I promised myself that I would do better. To find peace and comfort in my common duties, to put the phone down and actually read something I don’t have to scroll through, to rest in peace and quiet.

The world we live in is a noisy place. It wants to divide our attentions. But to live intentionally we must be intentional.  This lesson is one I need to learn. I thought all the tools would be the saving grace. But it all really starts with our mind, doesn’t it.

Don’t feel bad for your struggling. I think most of us are experiencing it to some extent.  Let’s try to clear our minds a bit. And see if that helps being focus back into focus.

Please don’t let all the noise take away your peace. In this crazy world we live in, we need a peaceful mind.  It will help deal with all the things going on and all the distractions. We can do this, my friend.  Living intentional is not just a saying, it is a purpose we should strive for.  Peace and comfort in these uncertain times is my prayer for you.