Two weeks ago I wrote about time as something you do not get to make, but get to decide how to spend. As you are contemplating how to spend, make the best use of and invest your time, it can be helpful to be comfortable with the concept of Selective Ignorance. 

Selective: adjective

• Intentionally choosing some things and not others.
• Careful in choosing

• the state or fact of being ignorant; lack of knowledge, learning, information, etc.

Ignorant: adjective

• lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned.
• lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact.
• uninformed; unaware.
• due to or showing lack of knowledge or training.

 

In a 3-2-1 Thursday Newsletter author James Clear challenges us to be "selectively ignorant."

• Ignore topics that drain your attention.
• Unfollow people that drain your energy.
• Abandon projects that drain your time.
• Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be.

It is ok to be selectively ignorant. You have limited time and attention. Suffering from FOMO (fear of missing out) generally results in trying to keep up with everything and everyone by constantly watching and reading the news and spending hours on social media. The result may be that you know a little bit about a lot of things (much of which will add very little to the quality of your life or your work), but there are few areas, if any, where you have a deep knowledge and understanding. For many people the constant news and social media exposure results in a reduced sense of wellbeing, and a sense of doom, gloom and helplessness. 

“In this age of information abundance and overload, those who get ahead will be the folks who figure out what to leave out, so they can concentrate on what’s really important to them. Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities.”

Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist

Decide what is important to you and where your time and energies are best spent. This does not mean you have to be myopic in your learning and growth. You can still read broadly, have hobbies and have intellectual conversations with people from diverse fields, backgrounds and expertise. Developing a deep level of skill, knowledge and mastery in one or two areas however, requires you to embrace the concept of selective ignorance. 

 “If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters—don’t wish to seem knowledgeable.”

Epictetus

If you are wondering where to start cutting back, start with mainstream media and social media. Your life will likely not be diminished by being selectively ignorant about most of what is posted on social media or the spin put forward by the media. 

What’s Important Now? Accept that it is ok to be selectively ignorant, and move forward with your life. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com. Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

www.daretobegreatleadership.com  Use the code WINSubscriber to get 10% off the online workshop Dare to Be Great: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Leading. 

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