Distraction is the Enemy of Traction.

Do you ever feel like your life is in a rut? Like you are just spinning your wheels? Like you have no traction and you are not going anywhere?

We all face seasons in life when we expend energy and effort but fail to produce the results we desire. It feels like life is slipping away while we become increasingly frustrated by our lack of traction. The earlier we spot a loss of traction the more likely we can avoid being stuck in a rut.

One of the most common and sneaky reasons for losing traction is being distracted. Distraction is the enemy of traction. When we get distracted from our primary mission, we begin to invest ourselves into endeavors that produce no results. We waste vital time, energy, and resources into efforts that do not line up with our goals.

It is like a kid playing Little League baseball. The number one rule in baseball is to keep your eye on the ball. Whether you are up to bat or playing in the field…keeping your eye on the ball is mission critical to the game. But kids can be easily distracted. It is cute to watch a Little Leaguer chasing a butterfly out in left field while the ball lands harmlessly a few feet away. It is a scene that is easy to imagine, but it is only cute if you have no stake in the game. The teammates and coaches are not amused by the distraction, because it could keep them from their goal of winning the game.

Chasing butterflies, constantly yelling “squirrel,” or mindlessly scrolling through social media when there is a greater mission at hand can get you into a rut in a hurry. Distractions take many forms and can be difficult to spot because they often present themselves as being mission critical. We love to defend our distractions and that is why they are such powerful enemies.

Take chasing butterflies for example. Maybe you love butterflies. Maybe your butterfly passion has evolved into a hobby or even a career. That is great, but unless you are an active lepidopterist (one who specializes in the study and collection of butterflies) then you may be losing traction every time you abandon your actual mission to pursue a butterfly.

The same is true with social media. It is easy to defend time on social media as adding value to our mission. We label it is as “research” or claim that it is about connecting with people, but what is all that time and effort producing? Scrolling is wheel-spinning. Wheel-spinning is rut-making. Rut-making is a loss of traction. It all starts with distraction. We forget our mission and chase something else.

What about yelling “squirrel” every time a fluffy-tailed rodent crosses your line of sight? I have no issue with that. Squirrels are awesome and should be acknowledged, because squirrels have a mission and they have tractional focus. Squirrels scurry about in the constant search of nuts. I respect that. When I see a squirrel, I simply remind myself that he’s just a squirrel trying to get a nut.

The next time you find yourself getting distracted and losing traction, stop and remind yourself to pursue your mission. Holding onto a squirrel-like focus can produce the traction you desire.