Navigating Distractions: Protecting Your Focus

Dec 02, 2026

Life can sometimes feel like a busy airport, right? So much is happening all around us—people coming and going, noise, and constant movement. It’s easy to get caught up in all that chaos and lose sight of where we’re supposed to be headed. But, just like at the airport, there are specific instructions we need to follow if we want to reach our destination. When we stay focused and listen carefully, the path becomes clearer.

Think about what happens when you approach the TSA line at the airport. It’s hectic, people are distracted, but the agent at the front gives everyone the same set of instructions: take off your shoes, remove your electronics, put everything in a bin. These are the steps you must follow before moving forward. And if we’re not paying attention, we miss something—maybe we have to go back, re-check our bag, or take out what we forgot.

In our lives, distractions work the same way. They pull us away from the instructions we’ve set for ourselves. We get caught up in things that seem important in the moment, but really, they’re just noise. They keep us from focusing on our goals and can sometimes hurt us emotionally, as we lose sight of the bigger picture.

But here's the thing: when we get distracted, it doesn’t mean the journey is over. Just like at the airport, when we make a mistake, we can correct it. Maybe we have to step aside for a moment, but we eventually get back in line, refocus, and keep going. We have to remind ourselves of our goals—our destination—and refocus on what we need to do to get there.

Now, once you’re on the plane, there are more instructions: how to put on your seatbelt, where to find the life vest, and how to use the oxygen mask in case of emergency. These instructions are there to protect you, just like the guidelines you set for your own life and goals. If you follow them, you’re better prepared for whatever comes your way, no matter how turbulent the flight.

So, what are the instructions you're giving yourself right now? What boundaries and guidelines are you setting to protect your focus? When distractions come—and they will—how will you stay on course?

Sometimes, distractions come in the form of people, relationships, or opportunities that seem tempting but don't really align with where we want to go. It's easy to feel hurt or thrown off course when things don't go the way we expect, but we can always dust ourselves off and get back in line, ready to move forward again.

The key is to remember that we can regain our focus. We just have to pay attention to the instructions we’ve set for ourselves and not let the noise around us drown them out. And just like every flight, we have a destination—we’ll get there as long as we keep going.

Kathe'rine