Habit Of HappinessSample

Give the Gift of Your Attention

We live in an ADD world. It seems like everybody’s got Attention Deficit Disorder because our tools and technology have left us perpetually distracted, and we no longer pay attention to the people around us.

When you walk into a meeting, how many people are sitting there looking at their phone and texting? Our heads are always down, engrossed in a video or word game, and our earbuds keep us from hearing the people around us. How many times have you been in a restaurant with friends, but you’re more concerned about your “friends” on Facebook or Twitter?

If you want to have happier relationships, you need to learn the lost art of paying attention.

The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others” (NCV).

This doesn’t come naturally, does it? By nature, I may not care what you’re interested in. By nature, I may want the attention on me, not you.

But the greatest gift you can give somebody is your attention because your attention is your time, and your time is your life. You’re never going to get it back, and that’s why it is so precious when you give it.

This is a simple but powerful tool in growing strong relationships. Are you interested in what your kids are interested in? Do you listen to what your partner has to say? Do you give your coworkers your attention when they speak to you? Do you notice your neighbor as you walk by him in the morning?

Learning the lost art of paying attention is an act of love. It t will transform your relationships and help you live a happy life.


This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.