Episode 30 - The Cost of Distraction

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Distraction isn’t a personal failure. It’s a symptom.

In this episode of Mormon to Muse, we explore distraction not as a productivity problem—but as an attention and devotion problem. Especially for women who were raised in high-demand systems, distraction often develops as a survival strategy: a way to avoid discomfort, override intuition, and stay externally focused.

We talk about how modern digital life mimics the same patterns many of us learned in religion—limited choices, constant input, and subtle pressure to look outward instead of inward. And we gently reframe attention as something sacred, powerful, and reclaimable.

This episode isn’t about deleting apps or becoming more disciplined. It’s about noticing where your attention goes, what it protects you from feeling, and how to return to yourself without shame.

In This Episode, We Explore Why distraction is often a nervous-system response, not a lack of willpower

How high-demand religions train us to outsource attention and authority

The hidden cost of constant stimulation and emotional avoidance

Why “paying attention” is a form of devotion How creative expression helps restore presence and inner trust

What it means to gently return to yourself again and again Key Ideas

Attention is not neutral—it shapes your inner life

Distraction often protects us from emotions we were never taught how to feel You don’t need more discipline; you need more permission

Awareness, not shame, is the doorway back to yourself

References

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005212?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622754/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#sec6-ijerph-18-12257

Upstream by Mary Oliver (Penguin Press, 2016)