Learning To Give the Gift of My Attention

In review of Philippians 2:4 it says, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others.

What this means to me:

I’m to not be only interested in my own life, I am to look out for and be concerned about the interests of others. I live in an “A.D.D.” world. Everyone tends to have Attention Deficit Disorder, mainly because our phones and technology have left us perpetually distracted. We no longer pay attention to the people around us. Often as I enter into a meeting and during a meeting, many will be looking at their phones and laptops, either texting, IM’ing, emailing or playing a game. Seems our heads are always down, engrossed in a video or word game, and our earbuds keep them from hearing the people around them. If I want to have happier relationships, I need to learn the lost art of paying attention. The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others” (NCV). Unfortunately, this doesn’t come naturally. By nature, I may not care what someone else is interested in. By nature, I may want the attention on me, not someone else. What I’m learning is that the greatest gift I can give somebody is my attention because my attention is my time, and my time is my life. I’m never going to get it back, and that’s why it is so precious when I give it. This is a simple but powerful tool in growing strong relationships. Learning the lost art of paying attention is an act of love. It can transform my relationships and help me live a happy life. A while back, I let my cell phone, mainly my email accounts, consume me. Then I noticed how often I was referring to my phone when I should have been paying attention to those around me. Unfortunately, I see it all around me, people doing the same thing, consumed in their phones. I have been making it a point to not be consumed by my phone, putting it down, and interacting with those I’m with. I have been guilty of watching my laptop during meetings and conference calls and missing out on some of the conversations. Today, I will strive to pay attention to those around me by focusing on their eyes. I will give them the gift of my time.