Divine Purpose of Distraction? How to Recognize Good Ideas and Resist Temptations

"Like when you wake up after a first love. You feel light or you feel heavy. There is nothing between." - Ando

Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in your life?

The house, the car, the partner, the job (or whatever) is great – but you have a strange feeling that it’s just not yours?

If you’ve ever had a, “How did I end up here?” moment, this letter is for you.

This Letter From Lou is inspired by a letter I recently received from a friend.

Here are his words :

Letters From Friends (featuring Ando)

If ideas are ethereal birds that land on human shoulders, then our task is to:

• Recognize their presence

• Divine their flight path, and

• Draw out their song

A wise elder distinguishes easily between birds flying towards light and those flying towards darkness. As does a child. Somewhere in between we lose the sensitivity.

But it can be restored. And it can be amplified. We know this to be true. Look no further than those among us who tread their path lightly and full of grace.

In this art, I am no pro. I am not finely tuned. I am learning. But I am willing to put forth a hypothesis:

Stroke each bird and you can feel its flight path.

When you’ve followed its song a few steps down the path, how do you feel? Are you buoyant, or are you sinking?

You’ll know the difference. Like when you wake up after a first love. You feel light or you feel heavy. There is nothing between.

The moment you feel heaviness, brush the bird gently from your shoulder. Let it go and wait patiently for the next. In time, you’ll see them for what they are with fewer strokes.

Some birds can bear the weight of their host. Listen closely enough and they will carry you softly above the path. Once you feel yourself levitating, you can begin to run.

Beautiful, right?

When I read this I immediately sent him a voice note: “You’re a wordsmith and a healer!”

I found this concept fascinating, so I did what I do - I dove deep to think about what it means to me and how I can implement it into my life in order to find more fulfillment.

Here’s what I discovered…

Transparent Dangling Carrots

Have you ever felt frustrated that, despite your intelligence, ability, and potential, you feel stuck?

It’s not that you’re not trying to be happy and fulfilled.

You’re likely doing the most, working hard at:

• Improving your body

• Your next promotion

• Maintaining friendships

• Taking care of your family

• Resolving the dysfunction in your relationship

All of these are noble pursuits, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you’re pushing yourself so hard to fit the mold or meet the standard?

Do you really need to (or want to) spend your precious time and energy:

• Losing five more pounds

• Making $20,000 more a year

• Meeting the (unrealistic) expectations of those friends

• Taking care of people who are capable of taking care of themselves

• Carrying the emotional weight of your significant others harmful choices

It's easy to be lured by the siren call of temptations – those ideas and expectations imposed by others.

We tell ourselves that we “should.”

“Shoulds” masquerade as goals worth pursuing, but often they lead to an unfulfilled life of regret.

They are nothing more than transparent, dangling carrots. A reward that is always out of reach.

Hear me out:

That lavish social life...
The impressive job title...
The “married” relationship status...
The luxury car, bigger apartment, or trendier clothes...

When we chase after what others believe is best for us, we relinquish control over our own destinies. We end up living someone else's dream, not our own. This path breeds resentment and a sense of emptiness because it diverges from our true purpose.

The number one regret when people die is that they didn’t have the courage to live a life true to themselves, but instead lived a life others expected of them (1). This is why…

The majority of adults live a life influenced by external pressures rather than internal desires. It's a life spent climbing ladders only to find they're leaning against the wrong walls.

To avoid this pitfall, develop the ability to distinguish between divine ideas – those that resonate deeply with your true selves – and mere temptations that serve to distract you from your genuine path.

If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired from chasing other people’s dreams, start your journey to a life beyond your wildest dreams by first learning how to tell the difference between a divine idea and a temptation.

Recognizing Divine Ideas vs. Distracting Temptations

Divine ideas – or the "birds of clarity" that come to sit on your shoulder, singing to you an idea of how to experience your life's greatest joys – resonate with your core values and aspirations. They inspire, uplift, and energize you.

In contrast, temptations – or the "birds of distraction" which do nothing more than distract you from our authentic path – are often rooted in fear, societal expectations, or the desire for external validation. They may offer short-term satisfaction but ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and regret.

Four Practical Steps to Discern the Difference

As with everything I research and teach through these letters, discerning the difference is simple but not always easy.

It takes practice and patience.

It requires progress as a bar of success, rather than perfection.

Here’s how to build the skill of discernment:

1. Tune into Your Emotions

Action: When an idea lands on your shoulder, pause and check in with your feelings. Does the idea make you feel excited and energized, or anxious and pressured?

Example: If a new job opportunity excites you and aligns with your passions, it might be a divine idea. If it only seems attractive because of the prestige or salary, and the idea of actually doing the work feel heavy, it might be a temptation.

2. Reflect on Your Values

Action: Compare the idea against your core values and long-term goals. Does it align with what you truly care about? A yes here will help ensure that you actually feel motivated and fulfilled by the action of doing it, rather than what you think you’ll feel once it’s done. It’s the journey not the destination – classic.

Example: If you're considering a major life change, ask yourself if it aligns with your desire for creativity, connection, and personal growth, or if it's driven by a need to conform to external expectations.

Don’t know your core values? Read How to Clarify Your Values (Step-by-Step Journal Prompts) in this Letter From Lou.

3. Seek Quiet and Solitude

Action: Spend time in quiet reflection or meditation to clear your mind of external noise. This helps you hear your inner voice more clearly.

Example: Before making a significant decision, take a day to meditate, journal, or spend time in nature, allowing your true feelings to surface.

If you can’t be still and feel peace when making a decision, it’s a sign that you’re acting from old conditioning (or even trauma).

If it's urgent, it's unresolved.
If it’s hysterical, it’s historical.
If it's dramatic, it's deep-rooted.

There are a million ways to say it, but I think Leland Val Van De Wall say’s it best, “The degree to which a person can grow is directly proportional to the amount of truth they can accept about themselves without running away.”

4. Test the Idea

Action: Take small steps to explore the idea without fully committing. Observe how these steps make you feel and adjust accordingly.

Example: If you're considering starting a new project, begin with a small pilot version. If it feels right and energizes you, continue. If it drains you, reconsider.

The point is - take action and pay attention.

A Life Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

Identifying and following these divine ideas brings profound benefits. When you trust your birds of light, they guide you towards paths that align with your true self.

Plus, you find joy in the journey, not just the destination.

You no longer:

• Live for a future date when things are “better.”

• Save your highest pleasures or dream experiences for retirement.

• Tolerate relationships that weigh you down instead of encouraging you to be your most authentic self.

The result: your lives become richer, not in material wealth, but in experiences, relationships, and personal growth.

By rejecting temptations and external pressures, you avoid the pitfalls of living a life dictated by others.

Steer clear of regret and resentment to pave the way for contentment and peace.

Trusting yourself and the divine birds of light will lead you to a life that is truly our own – a life where you can soar freely, buoyed by the wings of your divine ideas.

Thank You

Thank you, Ando, for inspiring this Letter through your own thoughtful reflection.

Thank YOU for reading.

I hope you found it valuable.

Jenna

Sources: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing by Bronnie Ware