Breaking Through the Noise: Finding Your Purpose in a Distracted World

Have you noticed how life’s distractions are relentless. Those 'bings' of notifications on the ever-present phone. The constant pressure to keep up with everyone, or just full-on envy of a friend's FB or Instagram post. The endless to-do lists, which often start with a task of creating the list itself! It’s like we’re stuck in this hamster wheel, just trying to get ahead, but somehow, we’re always a few steps behind. The result? We start feeling lost. Overwhelmed and on our way to burnout. Like we’re trying to walk through quicksand wearing too large gumboots (Wellies for my northern hemisphere friends), needing to keep stopping to try not to lose it—or them!

It’s hard to feel like you're on track, let alone having a purpose when you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions.

So, what do we do? We can either keep pushing through, hoping that one day it’ll all make sense (yeah nah, that's rarely a thing—let’s be honest, you'll end up at 60 thinking, where did life go, how did I miss that, and potentially being resentful)—or we throw our hands up in frustration and give up, then spend ages beating yourself up (or others) because you gave up and didn’t achieve something that might never have been achievable anyway. We let the distractions win, and those stories you tell yourself, those limiting beliefs, are the champions of distraction. In the process, we’ve lost sight of what we really want. It’s like trying to fall asleep at night, but all you can hear is a buzzing mosquito (or two—they always have friends!). You don’t want to be an involuntary blood donor, so you lay awake trying to figure out how to catch them. No matter how tired you are, you’ll want to fix those mozzies.

But here’s the thing: you can break through the distractions (and deal with the mozzies!). The first step is simply acknowledging what the distraction is. Once you’re aware of the distractions and how they’re affecting you, you can start to take control. It’s about setting boundaries, saying no to what doesn’t align with your purpose (working on the basis that you’ve got that figured out), and tuning out the external noise to make room for your own voice. Your purpose isn’t something you have to chase—it’s something you uncover when you create space for clarity. So, let’s talk about how to start walking across that quicksand and dealing with those pesky mosquitos—aka distractions—and help you find your direction again.

3 Tips to Deal with Distractions:

1. Create Daily Non-Negotiable Time for You—It’s Not Selfish, It’s Called SELF CARE

Block out time in your day that’s just for you, even if it’s just 30 minutes. No phone (put it on flight mode—I promise you, it won’t die), step away from the emails (you can deal with them shortly), and remember, your sanctity is more urgent than those “urgent” tasks. This is your time to focus on what really matters to you—whether it’s going for a walk in nature, popping a few lines down in your journal, or simply enjoying a quiet cup of tea. I’d definitely recommend Kawakawa leaves with a dash of honey 🐝. By making this time non-negotiable, you create space for clarity and help retrain your brain to stop reacting to every ping and buzz.

2. Set Boundaries (And Stick to Them)—Consider It Like a Gym Workout for Your Mind

Learn to say no to distractions that don’t serve you or your purpose. This could mean muting notifications (your brain and nervous system will thank you), setting specific work hours, or being clear with others about your needs. Someone said to me the other day, “No is a full sentence,” and I get it. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but like any workout, the more you use these boundaries, the easier it gets over time. Once you start, you’ll notice how much more control you have over your time and energy. Remember, every ‘no’ to a distraction is a ‘yes’ to your peace of mind and your overall wellbeing.

3. Practice Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Focus—Eye on the Prize, which Is your purpose

Mindfulness doesn’t mean sitting on a cushion and chanting (unless that’s your thing!). It’s about bringing your full attention to the present moment—the here and now. Whether you’re eating ( pay attention to what it tastes like, feels like?), walking (how does your body feel, what can you see or smell?), practice being fully present. The key to this is tuning into your senses. This helps to reduce the mental clutter and makes it easier to cut through distractions, helping you stay in tune with what you really want. Oh, and those pesky mozzies? Well, I found a good mosquito net works wonders. They can smell you, but they can’t get you!

So, there you have it. The distractions are real, but you have the power to cut through the noise and reclaim your purpose. It’s about acknowledging the distractions, setting those boundaries, and practicing mindfulness to bring you back to what really matters—you and the life you want to create. Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Small steps lead to big changes. Start with one thing today, and before you know it, you’ll be walking across that quicksand, purpose in hand, mozzies at bay.

Now, go ahead—take back your focus and your peace of mind. You’ve got this!