Attention is Currency—Spend It Wisely

Where Are You Paying Attention?

Your attention is currency. And every day, you spend it.

From the moment you wake up, someone wants your focus. Scroll this. Watch that. React now. But here’s a question that doesn’t get asked enough: What are you getting in return?

In spiritual circles, they say, “Where attention goes, energy flows.” In practical terms, it means your focus—what you notice, obsess over, feed—is shaping your reality. And in a world that runs on distraction, urgency, and fear, reclaiming your attention is one of the most powerful acts of self-care you can practice.

When I Stopped Paying Attention to the News

I used to believe it was responsible to keep up with the news. NPR in the car. Late-night Daily Show before bed. Following media accounts to “stay informed.” It felt like part of being a good citizen.

But it didn’t make me feel informed. It made me anxious. I remember how it started after 9/11—watching the footage over and over, terrified of where the next attack might come. I felt that same fear resurface years later during the Trump administration. I genuinely worried for my safety and future as a gay man.

But here’s the thing: no attack came. I didn’t have to flee the country. All that time, I just lived in a state of chronic stress.

That’s the real cost. When your attention is hijacked by fear, your body believes you’re under constant threat. And most of us are walking around in that state every single day.

Capitalism Thrives on Fear

Sales tactics are built on a simple formula: highlight the pain, sell the solution. Every ad you scroll past is whispering, “You are broken—but don’t worry, we’ve got just the thing.”

It’s not just news or politics. It’s beauty products, weight-loss apps, productivity tools. All engineered to keep you feeling behind, unworthy, not quite there yet. And the more stress you feel, the easier it is to buy into the promise of something outside of you finally fixing what’s wrong inside.

But the truth? You’re not broken. You’re exhausted. Distracted. Living in survival mode.

And that is not your fault.

Fear vs. Love: The Two States of Being

Neuroscience backs up what mystics and healers have said for centuries: we exist in two primary nervous system states—fear (fight-or-flight) and love (rest-and-digest).

In the fear state (sympathetic nervous system), your body prepares to defend itself. Healing shuts down. Digestion halts. Rational thinking narrows. This is helpful in a crisis—but devastating when it becomes your norm.

In the love state (parasympathetic nervous system), your body knows it’s safe. It repairs. It connects. It breathes fully and easily. This is where your intuition can speak. Where joy is born. Where you come back to yourself.

We often try to buy our way back into love: through self-improvement, through consumption, through control. But it doesn’t work. Because the path back is internal.

Returning to Love Doesn’t Cost a Thing

Your body is wired for safety and connection. It just needs signals. Here are a few ways to bring yourself back into regulation—no purchase required:

• Listen to birdsong – Evolution taught us birds don’t sing when predators are near. Their songs soothe our ancient nervous system.
  

• Sing or hum – A gentle vibration tells your vagus nerve that you’re safe. (Think of a parent soothing a baby. We know this instinctively.)
  

• Breathe mindfully – Even a few conscious inhales and exhales remind your body that you’re not in danger.
  

• Meditate – Stillness is scary at first, especially if you’re always in motion. But quiet is where healing lives. Meditation is not about “doing it right.” It’s about showing up for yourself.
  

Your Attention Is Your Power

This is where attention comes in. It’s not just what you’re focused on—it’s what you’re feeding. When you pay attention to fear, the fear grows. When you pay attention to your needs, your healing grows.

Coaching helped me recognize the difference.

It helped me see where I was caught in loops I didn’t even realize. It helped me step back into my body, reconnect with my values, and make decisions from a place of power—not panic.

If you’ve been stuck in a fear state—rushing, hustling, doubting, overthinking—you are not alone. And you don’t have to stay there.

You can learn how to work with your nervous system. You can return to love, safety, ease—and you can do it in small, consistent ways.

So today, I’ll ask again:

Where are you paying attention?

And is it worth the cost?