You very well could be suffering from SADD-situational attention deficit disorder, a term coined by Anderson Consulting Institute for Strategic Change. Specifically, most of us are now in situations in which we are bombarded by so many demands for our attention that our brains close down.

It’s a phenomenon of our time. Our brains, evolved over eons to respond to our environment and each other are exponentially being taxed by growth in information and technology. Everyone and everything is vying for attention. We are hardwired to respond but when it’s deluged like that, brain just “goes blind”. Engineers discovered this phenomenon when they installed hundreds of communication devices in cockpits, thinking it would improve pilot’s performance. Instead, when pilot’s performance decreased.

Information and technology will no go away. But there are ways to turn from “SAAD” to glad.

1. Determine your priorities and focus on them.

As I was breathing in all those good feelings I became aware of some not so nice thoughts that began nudging me for attention. Thoughts like, you’ll never make it as a coach, you’re not good enough, don’t let down your guard, you’ll wind up alone. The thoughts began to get louder, and pester me like a child wanting candy in grocery store check out line. My good feeling was quickly being drowned out. Where did these thoughts come from to threaten my great day?

Our lives and experiences are always being shaped by something. When we are growing up we are influenced by our surroundings, our family, culture etc. and we absorb and make part of us what we hear and experience both positive and negative. We go on and live our lives with these subtle, and sometimes not so subtle messages running in background.

Many of us live our whole lives listening to messages with loudest and most persistent voices, and often these voices can be ones that represent fear and limitation.

I’d like to share a story from my own life to show how we live with thoughts and pain from outside ourselves.

Early on my path of self-discovery I was curious about Native American ceremonies. I was seeking experiences to deepen my spirituality and connection to earth. I was also looking for ways to reclaim my wholeness and resolve some of fear that I had learned to live with. I became interested in sweat lodge ceremony because it offers opportunity for purification and a chance to face some core fears and issues. It also symbolizes safety and nurturing womb of mother earth.

I accepted an invitation to participate in my first sweat lodge ceremony with a Cherokee elder. I shared that auspicious day with 8 other women. We spent day preparing for what was to be a rather intense experience.