"Happiness can only be found if you can free yourself of all other distractions."  — Saul Bellow

Weekly Message from a Sister: "Are You Letting Flashing Lights, ShinyThings & Other Pretty Distractions Overtake You?"

By Lainika Johnson-Colbert,

There was a scene in the film, Minority Report starring Tom Cruise in which he is walking through a mall several years into the future.  He is at this particular mall for a specific purpose but as he enters, there are flashy images showing him products like cars and beer all the while calling his name. The goal is to get him to stop and enter one of the stores.  In this imagined world, name brands will have so much data on your past behavior that they can anticipate what you like; kind of like Google today.

Like most people, you probably have a goal in mind.  By the time most women get to the age of 35, they have pretty much determined their passions and what they think their God-given purpose is for living.  The problem is that we get sidetracked and distracted by the shiny things.  Those flashing lights are diverting our attention away from the reason that we are here. I submit to you that getting off-track is not entirely your fault. You have been destined to complete God’s purposes. That is why you are here.

Well, that is exactly what Satan does NOT want to happen.  Satan has been studying you for as long as you have been alive.  He knows what you like.  He knows what you get excited about.  He knows how to turn your head  and distract you just like those computers in Minority Report.  He has a complete file on you, sister.

You may have asked yourself, ‘why do I keep falling for the same distractions?’  The answer to the question lies in your inability to recognize the enemy when he comes.  He may come wrapped up in a big white smile and cufflinks or he may come in the form of chocolate cake.  It depends on what your weakness is.  The devil goes for the easy targets. It is important to note that recognizing the trick, doesn’t make the trick less appealing.  A temptation is a temptation. This is why recovering alcoholics cannot step foot in a bar ever again.  Your job is to resist the temptation.  Don’t even go there.  Not even once.

My mama used to always say, “Chile, the devil ain’t got no new tricks.” And I ask, "Why should he? We keep falling for the old ones."

Lainika Johnson-Colbert drives families and the women who run them to success.  Known as the Queen of Systems, she is a Life Strategist, Public Speaker and Public Relations Specialist. She has been a regular on ABC 15's Sonoran Living Live since 2005. Lainika's practical approach to life has transformed the lives of thousands of women and their families. Visit www.lainika.com for videos and more information about Lainika.  You can follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/urbancorporate.