The Intention Behind Attention: Finding Focus in a Distracted World

Throughout the past two decades, researcher Gloria Mark, PhD, has observed a continuous decline in the human attention span [1]. In 2004, the average attention span was recorded at approximately 2.5 minutes. Only eight years later, it decreased to 1.25 minutes. In 2023, that number shrunk to a meager 47 seconds, less than a third of its value only 19 years earlier. But what happened over the course of a single generation to produce such a great loss in human attention? 

There has never been a period in history quite like the one we are in today: the digital age has resulted in a fast-paced world with unprecedented access to technology and information. Consequently, the human brain has not been given enough time to evolve to these changes, impairing the mind’s ability to prioritize, analyze data, and focus on specific tasks. Furthermore, instant gratification, a relatively new concept caused by social media usage and increased dependence on technology, has contributed to attention problems across multiple age groups [2]. In fact, this generation of children, who are surrounded by technology and taught to multitask in schools, have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at alarmingly higher rates than previous generations [3]. Our brains simply cannot keep up.

Dr. Amishi Jha, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami and author of Peak Mind, found herself struggling to pay attention to her toddler and spouse for months [4]. Despite spending ample amounts of time with them, she felt mentally absent and constantly distracted at home. She described this moment, stating, “I was having my own massive crisis of attention, everything was just slipping away from my mind.” With countless responsibilities and tasks dominating her thoughts, Dr. Jha struggled with the same obstacles that most students encounter on a daily basis. In our chaotic and distracted lives, we often find ourselves asking difficult questions, such as “how do I limit the distractions pervading my daily life?” and “how do I direct my attention towards the things that matter most?” But the answers feel far-fetched and out of reach, even for Dr. Jha, an expert in the field of neurobiology. As she explored the existing literature on attention, tangible solutions eluded her, so she decided to tackle this issue herself. In her cognitive and behavioral neuroscience research, Dr. Jha defines attention as “the brain’s capacity to prioritize some information over other information.” She explains that our brains always possess this ability to receive information, sort it, and prioritize the most important data; however, it takes practice to hone and develop into a skill.

Diminishing attention spans are often a response to stress, but it is not merely decreased interest that has contributed to their decline. Rather, negative emotions like stress fundamentally alter brain activity, while positive emotions improve our cognitive function. To eliminate stressors and sharpen focus, Dr. Jha encourages her readers to redirect their attention and determine their top priorities—this is the ability to “rewire” the brain. While the impaired ability to focus may seem discouraging or even alarming, it is really just our brain’s way of telling us to slow down and reflect. Recent studies by Johann Hari [5] and Dr. Amishi Jha [6] have come to a similar conclusion: prioritizing our thought patterns allows us to gain our attention back and focus on what matters most.

The complexity of the brain and its ability to define our behaviors, emotions, and relationships was what led Dr. Jha to study neurobiology—afterall, the brain is a beautiful mystery. But her true passion lies in the intersection between mindfulness and attention, researching how mindful practices—primarily meditation—can spark attention and improve the ability to focus. Meditation is a common mindfulness practice in contemporary society, but its roots date back centuries. An ancient form of self-reflection, meditation is the gateway to peace and the foundation of Buddhist practices. Furthermore, meditating on scriptures in the Torah has been central to the Jewish faith since its origins over 3,500 years ago. Today, meditation has maintained its popularity through the emergence of the “self-help” cultural movement, which encourages people across religions and worldviews to look inwards, investing in themselves first. 

A deep dive into the science of the brain reveals practical applications, such as meditation and other mindfulness practices, to better focus our attention and utilize our cognitive capacities. While secular forms of mindfulness connect oneself to their own inner-workings, Christian prayer offers a different perspective as it emphasizes a two-way relationship. Rather than remaining self-focused, prayer allows a person to move beyond their own mind and engage in conversation with God. The calming presence of meditation parallels Christians’ engagement with the presence of God through prayer, ultimately delivering peace that transcends understanding.

For Christians, prayer is key to engaging in a relationship with God, but what followers of Christ fail to consider is how prayer can also impact attention span and ultimately determine who or what merits a person’s attention. Timothy Keller, a Christian thinker, describes this phenomenon in his work Counterfeit Gods, which explores how hopelessness is derived from a reliance on material goods, rather than on God and his image for our lives [7]. Keller proposes a solution for lasting peace of mind, stating, “the true god of your heart is what your thoughts effortlessly go to when there is nothing else demanding your attention.” In other words, the things that command our focus daily will become the place where our mind wanders at rest. But can we even choose what we focus on if distraction is our default state? Could this ancient practice of prayer truly alter my cognitive function?

Through a cognitive lens, Dr. Jha describes our attention span as short-lived and difficult to control when not properly maintained. In a conversation with Brene Brown, Dr. Jha uses the analogy of a flashlight to describe how our focus on certain objects, like a flashlight, allows us to determine where our attention goes naturally. When a flashlight illuminates a dark place to find a concealed object, the object comes into focus, despite all of the other distractions around the room. Even in the dark, the object of focus is always there; but by illuminating it, the brain tunes in to focus on it—ignoring other objects around the room. Ultimately, Dr. Jha’s research describes “wherever it is that we pay attention will recalibrate the way that the brain functions.” Her description of how attention functions neurologically can encourage us to find the people and things that matter most, as we all seek to uncover purpose and meaning in our lives. 

Attention is the product of the things and people that we value in our daily lives. Furthermore, the Christian faith asserts that God is the primary source of attention, and a life that does not desire God above the world will be vulnerable to distraction. This religious worldview revolves around a personal relationship with God; thus, when the very object of the Chrisitan life, God, has settled below the surface and is no longer the priority, the individual quickly grows restless and inattentive. But there is hope to be found. Throughout the Bible, there are countless metaphors of light, one of the most pertinent examples being Psalms 18:28. The scripture states, “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” Similar to Jha’s flashlight metaphor, followers of Christ always have access to a light source that grounds them, allowing them to see beyond the interruptions that threaten to distract them from God.

Only by learning to focus on God and prioritizing Him above all else can we begin to point the light source towards the object of our attention: Jesus. Just as it is impossible to pour from an empty cup, followers of Christ cannot shine a light without a power source. In the Christian faith, Jesus is the light source. Before one can focus their attention on those closest to them, they must first fix their eyes on the thing that they most desire, the source that will fill them up. Only then can they love others truly; only then can Christians show the light of Christ to others, and only then can they pour from an overflowing cup. Each person has the ability to pay attention; it simply must be focused on all the right things: who and what we treasure. The Bible says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” [Matt 6:21].

By becoming people who fix our minds on God through prayer, it is not only possible to find deeper peace in our own lives, but we may also become agents of change and hope for others. As the French Philosopher Simone claims, “attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity” [8]. We desire attention from others, and we often devote most of our own attention inwards. We pride ourselves on a strong sense of self, and today’s self-help culture only reinforces this concept. It is easy to become self-focused, just as it is easy to become subject to the distractions that command our attention in today’s world. The Bible warns against the human tendency towards selfishness in Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Even in a distracted, self-seeking world, Christians seek to live like Jesus. One of Jesus’s most notable characteristics throughout his life on earth was his generosity. Despite being the only person to live a sinless life, Jesus generously, lovingly, and willingly gave his time and attention towards many, especially those that society had forgotten. Christians hold fast to the idea that in the greatest act of generosity, God extended grace to sinners through his son Jesus’s death on the cross. It was out of his utmost attention and care for his people that Jesus died. This, I believe, is the rarest and purest form of generosity. To such a magnificent act of generosity, my response is simple: I strive to afford the One who loves me unconditionally with the same attention that he so generously gave to me.

References

1. Mills, Kim I. “Speaking of Psychology: Why Our Attention Spans Are Shrinking, with Gloria Mark, PhD.” American Psychological Association, February, 2023. 
2. Alsop, Ronald. “Instant Gratification and Its Dark Side.” Bucknell University, July 17, 2024.
3. Betteridge, Bita, William Chien, Ellen Hazels, and Julianna Simone. “How Does Technology Affect the Attention Spans of Different Age Groups?” OxJournal, September 5, 2023. 
4. Brown, Brene. “Dare to Lead: Dr. Amishi Jha on Finding Focus and Owning Your Attention.” March 21, 2022. 
5. Hari, Johann. Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—And How to Think Deeply Again. New York, Crown, 2021. 
6. Jha, Amishi P. Peak Mind: Find Your Focus, Own Your Attention, Invest 12 Minutes a Day. HarperOne, 2021.
7. Keller, Tim: Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters. Dutton Publishing, 2009.
8. Weil, Simone: “Letter to Joë Bousquet” in Simone Pétrement Simone Weil: A Life, 1976, tr. Raymond Rosenthal.