99% of the messages you get are pure noise.
We are told to always ‘pay attention’ in school. To be responsible. To be productive. To never let anything fall in-between the cracks.
But what if in order to live a better life, we needed to learn how to ignore? To breed ‘selective ignorance’ of things which are superfluous? To ignore information that didn’t apply to us?
When to ignore?
Most information distracts us, and isn’t applicable to us.
Why is it important to stay updated with ‘current affairs’ or the ‘news’ that doesn’t directly affect your life?
Why do you need to know about every new device that gets announced?
Why do you need to respond to every person that contacts you?
How to focus?
If you learn to ignore what isn’t important, you will gain more focus. You will have more decision-making power, energy, and focus to do what is truly important to you.
Also realize that many distractions, people, and things are like hydra. You cut off one head, and two grow.
You see that email that isn’t necessary for you to respond to. You respond to it anyways. Then that multiplies into 2 emails, then 4 emails, then 20 emails. The secret is to ignore the email in the first place, so it doesn’t multiply. This is why the methodology of ‘getting things done’ is a bit flawed — you are pressured into doing things all the time, and responding to everyone.
Rather, we should figure out what not to get done. What to ignore. What we should let slip. To embrace the upside of procrastination — to not act upon certain things which don’t really require our attention.
Learn to be selfish for the benefit of humankind
The duty you have to humankind is more important than the duty you have to the individual.
We all live for one another. In ancient societies, the group or collective was more important than the individual.
Often I feel guilty for not responding to all of my messages. But if I did, I would never have enough time, energy, or attention to blog, do creative work, or create/share information — which I feel can help a larger audience.
So learn how to be more stingy with your time. Learn how to selectively ignore certain people, things, or matters.
How do you know what to give attention to, and what to ignore?
My suggestion: follow your gut.
If you get a message from someone that is really important to you — give them your attention. If a stranger asks you for an unnecessarily attention-intensive task, perhaps you should ignore that person.
Ignoring is empowerment
Ignoring can be one of the best things we do in life. Other ways you can apply it:
- Someone insult you? Ignore it.
- Someone accidentally bump into you or elbow you in the back of your head? Ignore it.
- Did someone wrong you? Ignore it.
- Did misfortune happen to you? Ignore it, and move on in life.
- Do you have negative memories from the past? Ignore it, don’t dwell on the past. Live for the present and future.
- Are negative people trying to contact you? Ignore them.
I know it is hard— it is one of the things I’m trying to build, the skill of ignoring. I feel user-guilty for not responding to all my emails, or people who reach out to me. But once again, I know that I was born to help empower others on a larger scale— so I need to remind myself that the power of ignoring others is a positive skill.
So friend, learn to ignore the bullshit of life. Ignore negative people who drain your energy without giving you any positive energy. Ignore insults, calamities, and downsides in your life. Ignore distracting social media, websites, blogs, media, and superfluous sources of information.
But what should you never ignore? Your own conscience.
Always,
Eric
Learn more: Life Lessons >