Navigating the Attention Sphere: Faith, Flow & Finding Your Dharma
From Episode 19 of Do You Feel Heard? Podcast
By Ian Mychal & Derrick Jones
Summary
In a culture of constant distraction and urgency, co-hosts Ian Mychal and Derrick Jones pause for an honest one-on-one about how to discern what truly matters. From modern media outrage cycles to personal dharma, this conversation invites us all to slow down, tune in, and realign with purpose. They explore the “attention sphere,” the power of stillness, and how knowing your deeper calling helps you stay steady on your path—even when the path meanders.
Whether you’re seeking clarity, feeling scattered, or simply needing a moment of depth, this episode offers soulful insight and practical reflection.
Pull Quotes
“There’s never been a point in history with so much designed to steal our attention.” – Derrick Jones
“If you’re walking your path, everything you need will be provided.” – Ian Mychal
“Serve others, and someone will serve you. If we all feed each other, no one goes hungry.” – Ian Mychal
“Sometimes the time off the path is the path.” – Derrick Jones
“Nature works in spirals. Humans try to work in straight lines.” – Derrick Jones
The Attention Economy and the Cost of Distraction
We live in what Derrick describes as an “attention sphere”—a swirl of constant inputs that latch onto our focus: social media, headlines, texts, ads, causes, outrage. With so many options for what to care about, it’s easy to get exhausted or confused about what really deserves our energy.
Ian reflects on the modern outrage cycle: “It lasts a week or two. Then it’s gone. And we move on—having spent all that emotional energy with very little to show for it.”
Together, they challenge us to ask: Is this where I want my energy to go? Or am I being manipulated?
Slow Is Sacred: Reclaiming Attention
Instead of chasing what’s urgent, they both recommend practices that create stillness. Whether it’s meditation, yoga, nature walks, or mindful homesteading, these slower activities reconnect us to what’s real.
“In the blank space, creativity and intuition arise. Not in the grind.” – Derrick
By slowing down, we give ourselves the chance to discern what’s ours to carry—and what isn’t.
Dharma: Your Personal Compass
Ian offers his own north star: Dharma, or sacred purpose.
“If it doesn’t align with my Dharma, I’m far less called to put energy into it.”
For him, Dharma is helping others reduce self-inflicted suffering—particularly through better communication. This lens filters what’s worthy of his attention and what is a tempting, but misaligned, distraction.
Wisdom from the Wild
What if we were more like bears or mountain lions—quiet, patient, attuned to our environment rather than charging blindly toward what we want?
When we attach to instant outcomes, we miss the subtle signs. But when we pause and listen, we move in harmony with the moment—just like the animals do.
“There’s a difference between a flash and a fire. Between distraction and a real calling.”
Long Dopamine & Real Change
Our culture rewards short dopamine hits: the ping of a text, the scroll of a feed, the thrill of instant delivery.
But Derrick introduces a new term: long dopamine—the kind that comes from slow-cooked meals, gardening, patient progress, and relationships that deepen over time.
“Real change takes slow, steady pressure. You can’t fast-forward transformation.”
Being Like Water
As the episode closes, Ian returns to a favorite metaphor: the river. “Water doesn’t get mad at the boulder in its path,” he says. “It flows around it.”
Instead of fighting every twist, we can trust our path, even when it winds. Especially when it winds. That’s where beauty lies.
Closing Reflection
Your attention is sacred. Your energy is finite. And your purpose—your Dharma—deserves to be protected. In a world full of noise, tuning in might be the most radical act of all.
So take the next step. Flow like water. And trust: you’ll get to the ocean.
Want more?
Subscribe to the Do You Feel Heard? podcast for deep, grounding conversations like this one. And explore more reflections at HelpingTheHeard.com, where we believe healing begins when you feel truly heard.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GeenTgwqG7JybglY1JstO?si=HeSi28l6QYurEXH1PfKC5w
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