Traction vs distraction

To live the life you want, you must avoid the wrong things while you focus on the right things. The wrong things are distractions and the right things are traction.

The word traction comes from the Latin root trahere which means to pull. In his book Indistractable, Nir Eyal suggests thinking of traction as actions that pull us toward what we want in life. Distraction is the opposite of traction. It’s derived from the same Latin root and means the “drawing away of the mind.” Distraction is any action that pulls you away from what you want. [1]

The reward of traction is the joy you feel while striving towards your potential. The cost of distraction is the regret you feel when you realize you’ve wasted your time.

It’s impossible to tell the difference between traction and distraction if you aren't clear on what you want to accomplish. This is why setting goals is so important. There are far more opportunities available to us than we have resources to invest in. When you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, you can make your highest contribution towards what really matters to you.

Goals allow you to prioritize your future and orient your attention around what you want. The biggest benefit of goals doesn’t come from achieving the outcome. It comes from the focus they create.

Notes

[1] For more on this, see my Notes and Takeaways from Indistractable

Have thoughts on this topic? I'd love to hear from you! I'm @RickLindquist on Twitter.