You want to pray more. Be more present to your family. Read Scripture. Spend less time rushing from one thing to the next.
So why is it so hard?
Sometimes the problem isn't a lack of good intentions. It's distraction.
In the Good Catholic series, Finding Simplicity, an important difference is identified between distractions we can't control and those we can prevent or minimize. The latter can quietly fragment our attention until we find ourselves with very little left for God or the people right in front of us.
Here are six worth looking for in your own life:
1. Your phone
How often do you pick it up without even thinking? A text leads to email, which leads to social media, which leads somewhere else entirely. Try leaving your phone in another room during prayer, meals, or the first 30 minutes after you wake up. If you use the phone for prayer, open the Morning Offering, Liturgy of the Hours, or the Mass readings you came for, but don't let a notification turn prayer time into distracted phone time.
2. Noise
Noise is constant. To truly experience silence, we need to be intentional. In The Power of Silence - Against the Dictatorship of Noise. Silence is a daily necessity, and the lack of it can easily become a source of distraction for our souls.
We can gain a bit of silence in easy ways. Turn off music on the commute to school or work. Sit in silence and say a quick prayer before calling that friend. Go for a walk in the early morning or in the evening and postpone that podcast for a few minutes of quiet. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful place to find that silent time with God. Allow some moments each day with no noise.
3. News and entertainment
There is nothing inherently wrong with knowing what's happening in the world or enjoying a show. But constant input leaves very little room for silence. Putting a limit on the news and entertainment you consume is one way to stay accountable to yourself. Ask yourself how often you consume something simply because it has become a habit. Skip some form of news or entertainment and use that time for spiritual reading.
4. Clutter
There is an order to God's creation, and bringing a little order to our own surroundings can help quiet some of the noise around us. Take that pile of clothes you've walked past three times today. Where do they belong? In the laundry? In a drawer? Put them there. The pile of paper on the counter and the overflowing closet keep reminding us of unfinished tasks and competing for our attention. Choose one small space and put it in order.
5. Unnecessary busyness
Some activity is unavoidable. Some we choose. We say yes, add another commitment, run another errand, or fill an open evening simply because it's open. Before adding something to your calendar, ask: Does this need to be done? Does it need to be done by me? Then take a look at what is already there. Is there one commitment, errand, or activity you could eliminate? Creating a little margin in your calendar leaves more room for the unexpected ways God may ask for your time.
6. Your own thoughts
Sometimes the noisiest place is our own mind. We replay conversations, anticipate problems, mentally write tomorrow's to-do list, or worry about things we cannot control. Remember that we are the gatekeepers of our thoughts. When our mind wanders, we can gently bring it back. Even the act of bringing our minds back to God is in itself a kind of prayer. Arrow prayers, such as "My God and My all" can also help.
There are endless short ejaculations we can lift up to God in a moment to try to regain focus on Our Lord.
The goal isn't to construct a perfectly distraction-free life. That's impossible. It is to recognize the distractions we are allowing to take more of our attention than they deserve. Jesus said:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33, RSV-CE)
One saint who struggled with distractions and yet consistently brought herself back to Jesus was St. Faustina. Her diary, a spiritual classic, unveils St. Faustina's encounters with Our Lord Jesus Christ and His message of Divine Mercy. Find your copy today at The Catholic Company!
