When Learning Becomes a Distraction

The podcast isn't the problem...Or is it?

Anyone else drown themselves in information?

I do it all the time. Podcasts, YouTube videos, essays, lectures. I can barely concentrate unless someone is describing geopolitics, music theory, or philosophy to me.

I tell myself it’s because I love to learn but it’s also a cover.

Because when I turn off the noise, something else creeps in, my actual feelings. And to be honest, they’re usually not great. So I stay plugged in. Distracted. Curious. Productive?

It’s a less dangerous form of intoxication. No hangover, no health risk, no glaring downside. Right?

Well… there is one.

If I’m always consuming someone else’s thoughts, then I’m never actually listening to my own.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with silence. No headphones. No autoplay. No narration.

Just me, and the stuff I’ve been dodging.

What I find on the other side of that discomfort is… me. My ideas. My creativity. My thoughts.

And from there I can really do anything.

But first, I have to shut off the faucet and face the music(pain).

And I hate that. Because I really do love to learn.

Anyone else have this problem?

– RCM