“Distracting yourself” — An Analysis of This Sentence’s True Meaning
Does it mean “getting away from reality”?
Our lives need entertainment. We can’t keep constantly focused on work and duties. Nowadays, some of the most common forms of distraction are binge-watching Netflix, doing sport, reading or hanging out with friends. We need it. It’s kind of the pressure relief valve of our busy schedules.
But my point isn’t here.
Something once struck me. I am French. And in French, “entertaining yourself” is translated as “se distraire” — which is the same as “distracting yourself” in English. When looking for the etymological meaning of this term, here is what I found:
- prevent (someone) from concentrating on something
- divert (attention) from something
- divert one’s attention from something unpleasant by doing something different or more pleasurable
Diverting yourself is extracting yourself from reality
I know, it’s just a matter of words. But words are important. How comes that to refer to our daily entertaining activities do we use the word “distracting”, with all its meaning?
If we pay attention to the words used in the third definition, we find “something unpleasant”. Isn’t it the proof that our lives have become so alienated from what they should be that life now feels unpleasant? And that entertainment embodies the only pleasant moments of our lives?
Why do we need to distract ourselves from our lives, to extract ourselves from reality, to run away from it?
We need to make a change. We need to stop seeing entertainment as a way out. And to do this, we need to realign with ourselves.
I know that some situations are difficult to change. There’s money issues, family issues, health issues. I know that nothing can be done in the blink of an eye. But if you really want to, you’ll find a way to make the changes.
Today, ask yourself one question: are you deeply happy?
Happiness is kind of a background impression. You might not feel yourself bursting with joy all the time, but still can be happy. Sparks of happiness happen punctually, but you need to ask your deep self whether or not it feels this background happiness sensation.
Then, ask yourself one other question: what do you want?
For both, you need to answer with brutal honesty. Then, think about making the needed changes. You’ve got one life. You can’t afford to miss it out, nor feeling the constant need to distract yourself from it.
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