We humans generate a lot of activity in the modern world - some required and necessary. Much voluntary and self-directed.

But if we have some very important goals in life, then how do we decide what activities will get us toward these heartfelt, authentic, true goals? We must have at least a broad method first to put them into columns. In this exercise, we have three columns for our filtering process.

Now make no mistake. You make these decisions because you are responsible for and commanding your own life.

Dedications, Diversions and Distractions

I created these three categories because they are broad enough to get the job done. By concentrating on just three categories, then we can actually make some choices in our sorting process.

First, why are we making this sorting process? Because if we can concentrate and focus on our dream goals, then we can attain them. By developing this relentless sensibility toward this goal, we involve our entire Being to attaining this goal. So this first section is Dedication.

Dedications

Dedication is defined as follows:

1 religion : an act or rite of dedicating (see DEDICATE entry 2 sense 1) to a divine being or to a sacred use e.g. the dedication of the temple

4 : self-sacrificing devotion and loyaltyher dedication to the causerequired hard work and dedication

In this case, I have chosen a sense of a divine being or sacred use not because I am invoking a particular religion or any religion. But rather I am invoking a sense of divine and sacred purpose on your part. After all, we are focused in the word of dedication that you have a goal and it matters in great deal to you to attain that goal. The goal you want may logically seem unrealistic and unattainable at this given moment in time - if we process through our logical mind. Forget the logical mind!

Your goal must be extremely heartfelt, emotional and give you a profound sense of fulfillment, achievement in authenticity and you're being. People who have found outlandish goals, seemingly at great odds to the present circumstances, are people who find a way, resources, contacts and other methods to attain that goal. The logic is against it. The heart sees nothing else but success!

These are Your Dedications.

Diversions

Diversion is defined as follows:

1 : the act or an instance of diverting or straying from a course, activity, or use :

2 something that diverts or amuses : PASTIME Hiking is one of her favorite diversions.a welcome diversion from the pressures of the job

Activities which allow you the variety and uncertainty of our existence to enjoy life more and more - and yet gain some knowledge, skills and insight into our lives and our future.  Perhaps learning to play the cello.  One may not be dedicating one's life to this endeavor, but the playing and music provide and enrich our life with the beauty of Mozart and more.

This cello playing might engage you enough to become a Dedication. This pursuit would probably involve you making a living at playing the cello, dedicating weekend hours and much more. Or playing the cello could remain a healthy diversion from your main dedication. A diversion enriches your life in many ways.

Distraction

Distraction is defined as follows:

1 something that distracts : an object that directs one's attention away from something else turned off her phone to limit distractions One created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.

2 the act of distracting or the state of being distracted especially : mental confusion driven to distraction by their endless chatter

Too much TV or video games or wasted time with people who do the same thing over and over.  Needless and reluctant hobbies.  Old activities - that are not part of our new self - but have become habit!

Smart phones can be amongst the worst culprits for distractions. In an article on neuroscience, the central culprit is technology, including smartphones. 

Our smartphones have become Swiss army knife–like appliances that include a dictionary, calculator, web browser, email, Game Boy, appointment calendar, voice recorder, guitar tuner, weather forecaster, GPS, texter, tweeter, Facebook updater, and flashlight. They’re more powerful and do more things than the most advanced computer at IBM corporate headquarters 30 years ago. And we use them all the time, part of a 21st-century mania for cramming everything we do into every single spare moment of downtime. We text while we’re walking across the street, catch up on email while standing in a queue – and while having lunch with friends, we surreptitiously check to see what our other friends are doing. At the kitchen counter, cosy and secure in our domicile, we write our shopping lists on smartphones while we are listening to that wonderfully informative podcast on urban beekeeping.

Think About These Three Columns

You have to make a Decision on your own Activities.  Where do they fall in your Life?

Let’s use “Gaming” as an example for playing very popular video games such as “Minecraft”, “Crossfire” or “PUBG: Battlegrounds.” Now in examining the the Dedications, Diversions and Distractions, one must first consider Time. How much time does one spend on Gaming? Let’s say two hours a night.

So to think of it in these terms for Gaming

• Dedication - I am going to become a well-paid professional game with every skill possible to rise to the top of the gaming world.

• Diversion - I do gaming because I enjoy the thrill of the game and the social interaction with friends over a common purpose.

• Distraction - I just game a lot without either the fervor of a Dedication or the fun of the Diversion. I’m just killing time.

Now you get to decide on many activities if it’s worth your time and effort. Is this activity giving you greater rewards and skills and fun and fulfillment? Or not? I have gamed a few programs but I personally had other activities that took precedence. This metric can be applied to any activity. My diversions are reading and gardening. In the garden though, I come up with a lot of terrific ideas for my stories and projects - which are my Dedications.

You can make the three columns and put your life in perspective, in order and in alignment with your True Purpose in Life - Your Dedications.

Your Life, Your Decision.