Never allow distraction

No matter how you search the matter, there are five basic types of driver distraction. Visual distraction, which is assault on the eyes, coax-compels you to look at other than the road. Its auditory version exists in the main to sweet-talk you so much that all you hear is everything driving-unrelated. The third is manual distraction which relaxes you to the point you start manipulating other than the steering wheel.

Cognitive distraction is fourth on the log. Essentially, it covers all forms of thinking that has nothing to do with driving. Bringing up the rear is the distraction I call personal choice. This one is just the euphemism for the foolishness of toying with something you know shall hurt you.

In every sense, life is like driving. Everybody is a driver. There are many distractions, many roadblocks, many stumbling blocks. To arrive alive and successful, you choose or decide -early on- that no distraction shall succeed with you.

That choice or decision is not child’s play. It takes far beyond the natural to grow your being to the point of not letting distraction get the better of your mission or vision, or both. In fact, the one who is so good at shunning distraction runs the risk of being tagged arrogant by even family and friends and colleagues and bosses and supporters -in that order. However, that is the way, the only way, to go; if you must drive and arrive successful and successfully.

At this juncture, let us break down via exemplification the five types of distraction. Visual distraction includes: fine women (or girls) or men (or boys) -you get it; opponent’s standing ovation; such other events or things intended to dissuade you, etc. Auditory distraction is everything you hear which is meant to intimidate or discourage you: bragging, news, songs, etc. Manual distraction is when you leave your lane, of your own volition, because of what you have heard or seen, to start doing things which hurt your journey: accepting lousy advice; becoming another person; joining bad company.

Cognitive distraction shows up when you believe false evidence appearing real: that is, fear that you give in to. You are on a journey and suddenly you start believing lies by your opponent(s) or their agent(s) or those who are either envious or too scared to embark on like journey. Allowing envy or fear or wet blankets (jointly or severally) to distract you is proof of your cognitive puerility. Stop saying you did not know, because now you do.

Examples of personal decision as a distraction type abounds. One, all the aforementioned four can also suffice here. Yes, when you allow a fine person or thing, or news or music, or your hands or your mouth, or mindset or thinking, to distract you, it can be argued that you shot yourself in the foot. Two, knowing that this is distraction but still letting yourself to be distracted is the worst example of personal choice or decision.

Man must realise that distraction is a chameleonic thief. In the form of procrastination, it steals time, it steals joy, it steals energy; even destiny. It comes in forms, or shades and shapes, or ways you may not readily decode. Distraction -when allowed- takes far too much from a man on a mission, a man of vision.

Therefore, be different: learn to focus on your journey, on your goal(s), on your mission. Learn to never be attentive to or to never be concerned about or to never be jealous of distraction purveyors. Learn to live and let live. Learn to allow happenings, things and people not directly linked to your life trip have nothing to do with your mind!

And, no matter what happens, stay on your lane. Ignore all extraneous, even unrelated intrinsic, noises. Never allow doubt force you to take your eyes and therefore your mind off the ball. Beware, distraction delays or hinders results.

Always remember that results have a summarily terminal style of shutting up the insults inherent in distraction. Look at my Arsenal football club of London, for instance. When the extreme hard work by Mikel Arteta and the boys brought a 22-year wait to a halt, even known enemies and mockers have joined in the ad hoc celebratory feast happening all around the globe. Had the team allowed all those distractions concomitant with a winner-takes-all competition such as the English Premier League, today shouts “champions, champions” would have been “bottlers FC, bottlers FC.”

As build-up 2027 approaches a crescendo, it is important to sit down with self for a different kind of tête-à-tête. The sane-you should point out those landmines of distraction that the political-you should look out for. The political-you should not be too embarrassed to ask even comedown questions. After all, you-one and you-two is one!

Be content just being you and just doing your thing. That is something that keeps you above distraction; something that angers its purveyors. Even if you cannot, never allow yourself to be distracted. You see, distraction is so useless -when all is said and done- you can neither count it as a blessing or list it as an achievement.

Finally, learn to let distraction and its purveyors breathe. Understand that they are doing their thing. Do not seek to suffocate enemies and gossips and impostors and opponents and their ploys. They are playing their own part: they are focused on their own mission.

God bless Nigeria!

How popular is your congratulations?

Yesterday, while addressing an Abuja-Nigeria virtual audience from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, a husband said something he said his wife said one big man’s wife said to her. You had to mentally replay the reported speech to catch what made it important enough to qualify for the rehash.

The wife had simply greeted big madam with “congratulations,” following her husband’s success at some primary, but she answered, “the congratulations is for all of us.”

I have been ruminating on that line. One, I have always liked that woman. Unfortunately, like most political wives (I hope that means what I mean) she gets very little credit and mention for her quality and work.

Two, I find what she said profound; because not all congratulations can be shared. Many Nigerian politicians, even their family have no share in their congratulations. So, let us ask: of the congratulations flying all over the place, what share is for family, and what for the community, and what for the electorate?

Dear winner, are your family and kinspeople and voters genuinely happy that your lifting complete with the congratulations is for them as well? Or, everything about and for you is me and I? May all congratulations based on ballot 2027 be for all Nigerians!

Amen!