Focus on Circle of Relevance

Ideally our best intentions would pave a straight path to success. Yet, we often find ourselves running in place, expending energy with little to show for it. This frustrating cycle stems from a fundamental misapplication of our most valuable resource: our time. We fritter it away focusing on many unproductive things that are way beyond our influence.

Understanding the Two Circles

The core of this problem lies in our inability to distinguish between our circle of Relevance and our circle of Concern. The circle of concern encompasses everything we care about, from global issues like climate change to local matters like a city council decision. The circle of Relevance, however, is a smaller, more manageable subset of our concern. It includes only the things that can contribute directly to the success of our goals.

The Modern Distractions

The manifestation of this wastage of time is reflected in indulgence in social media, news, politics, etc. It is indeed very difficult to wean oneself away from these addictions.

These platforms are engineered to capture and hold our attention, pulling us away from our circle of Relevance and into the vast, often overwhelming circle of Concern. We scroll through endless feeds, consume countless news updates, and engage in debates about matters we cannot directly influence - all while our personal goals remain unaddressed.

Breaking Free from the Cycle

To break free from the cycle of wasted effort, we must set tougher goals on our path with appropriate deadlines / milestones and religiously focus on achieving them. It also helps if one can do "fasting" on social media and other distractions! Over time the stranglehold of these addictions become diluted and lets one focus on their core focus areas.

The key is to be ruthlessly honest about what truly belongs in your circle of Relevance. Does scrolling through social media contribute to your goals? Does consuming hours of news commentary advance your personal mission? For most of us, the answer is no. By consciously choosing to invest our time and energy within our circle of Relevance, we transform intention into tangible progress.