I don't know what's wrong with me.
I just can't focus anymore.
Maybe.
Or maybe you've become exceptionally good at focusing...
...just not on what you intended.
That's not very comforting.
I know.
But let's investigate before we diagnose.
Tell me...
When was the last time you reached for your phone without deciding to?
Probably five minutes ago.
Interesting.
Did your attention disappear?
Or did it simply obey the strongest invitation in the room?
I never thought about it like that.
Most of us don't.
We assume attention is something we either have or don't have.
In reality...
It's something we keep allocating.
Thousands of tiny investments every day.
Some intentional.
Many automatic.
So my attention isn't broken?
Have you ever binge-watched an entire series?
...Yes.
Congratulations.
Your attention works beautifully.
The real question is...
Who has been managing your investment portfolio?
Ouch.
Fair enough.
So what do I do?
Don't start by trying to focus harder.
Start by noticing.
Notice what repeatedly interrupts you.
Notice what repeatedly attracts you.
Notice what repeatedly exhausts you.
Awareness comes before change.
Always.
That sounds surprisingly manageable.
Good.
Because attention isn't something you force back.
It's something you gently bring home.
Again.
And again.
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