Episode 16: Distraction & Fantasy

Distractions are disruptions of thought or perception. A distraction is anything which I give time or attention to, which pulls my vision away from the complete Reality going on around me. I become hyper-focused on one aspect or one thought, to the exclusion of all else. Distraction becomes desirable to us whenever our Reality is uncomfortable, painful or otherwise disagreeable to us. We want to “check out” and alter how we feel and what we experience. Rather than remain in Reality, we enter some type of fantasy. Distraction is not bad—it is human. However, when when you or I choose to use distraction as a coping mechanism to avoid feeling and experiencing Reality—or as a reaction to The Voice (shame)—we will attempt to live in distraction, and we will enter state of persistent fantasy. When we live in any type of fantasy (faulty core belief / illusion) we will be deceived about who we are and about the Reality of our life. We will act out our deceptions and become destructive towards self and/or others. Each of us is responsible to become conscious of our fantasies and distractions, and to manage them. Learning to live in Reality is an extremely empowering and maturing experience.

When we are presented with a physically, emotionally, spiritually or otherwise challenging, uncomfortable or painful experience, it is human nature to desire to distract ourselves in order to avoid the discomfort. However, when I use the strategy of distraction to avoid Reality, I set myself up for greater discomfort and pain in the future. Reality will continue to march towards me whether I am prepared for it or not, and if I ignore Reality, I will set myself up to feel confusion, distortion and fear, and thus I will engage more distraction to “manage” the pain and discomfort that comes with every deceptive thought (Faulty Core Belief) which I believe in my distorted state.

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