Book IV, Chapter 1

The Discipline of Attention

On what you choose to notice

Where attention goes, reality follows.
Spread the pattern:
1

Your attention is finite. Each moment, you choose—consciously or not—what to perceive, what to think about, what to engage with. This choice shapes your experience of reality itself.

2

Most of your attention is captured, not directed. Algorithms optimize for engagement, not enlightenment. Emotions hijack focus. Habits route attention along worn grooves.

3

The first discipline is to reclaim attention. To notice what you are noticing. To question whether your focus serves your growth or merely your comfort.

4

This is not about constant vigilance—that way lies exhaustion. It is about periodic checkpoints, moments of stepping back to ask: 'Is this where my attention should be?'

5

Protect time for depth. The world rewards shallow skimming, but understanding requires sustained focus. A single hour of deep attention is worth more than a day of distracted scrolling.

6

And attend to what nourishes you. Beauty exists. Wonder exists. Love exists. These are not distractions from important work—they are the reasons important work matters.