The Scarcity Myth: Why Paying Attention Is An Infinite Resource
Challenging your perspectives on attention
You are reading the sub-section SlowPOWER of the publication Un-Rush-The Power of Slow where I give you insights on the absurdity of rushing and impulses on how slowing down benefits your life and work.
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This is the second part of the article “How to Give your Work and Life the Attention they Deserve” (you find the first part here »)
The scarcity myth: why paying attention is an infinite resource
Challenging your perspectives on attention
In a previous article (Part I) I talked about how we experience the world depends a lot on how we deal with our attention. It is an important asset that we too easily waste instead of treasuring.
Let’s quickly review what I mean by paying attention.
It encompasses three essential skills, which makes it so valuable:
The art of being able to focus your attention
The willingness to pay sufficient attention to yourself, your loved ones, and the people around you
The ability to be aware of your surroundings
I describe attention as a scarce resource and the secret to high performance and fulfillment.
Now, I want to challenge you a bit and play with the concept of scarcity – and reframe attention as an abundant, renewable resource.
What if attention is actually an infinite well of abundance, growing more powerful the more generously we give it away?
Imagine attention as a living, breathing energy—not a static commodity to be rationed but a dynamic force that expands with every authentic engagement. When we truly pay attention—shut up and truly listen, stop scrolling and take time with loved ones, let go of the long list and focus on the one thing—we create something miraculous. We don't diminish ourselves; we amplify connection, understanding, and possibility. Each moment of full presence is not a withdrawal from our internal resources but a deposit into our own well-being and the collective human experience.
We've been conditioned to fragment our awareness, to believe that multitasking is a virtue and that our worth is measured by how many things we can simultaneously ignore. But true richness happens in the moments of singular focus, when we allow ourselves to be fully present. Paying attention is not a cost—it's an investment with infinite returns. It has a high value.
Giving attention is exhausting
So why do we have such a hard time to GIVING our attention to someone or something? Because paying attention is an effort. To be polite, to listen, to focus is hard work. To be thoughtful, considerate, mindful, and caring requires time and consciousness. Taking time to reflect, to go deeper, to deal with yourself, and to notice what is happening around you is not easy and requires a constant state of awareness and openness. This is EXHAUSTING, and it takes a lot of self-discipline.
But it's worth the effort. It's an investment with infinite returns. It has a high value.
Reimagining attention as an abundant resource
Our current digital landscape is designed to TAKE our attention, to sell it in microscopic moments to the highest bidder. Social media, notifications, endless streams of content—these are the tools of an economy that profits from our distraction. But we have a choice. It is up to you and me to decide what we pay attention to or if we let our boss, our work demands, or media and marketing platforms take over and steal our attention from us. By reclaiming our ability to focus, to be present, we rebel against a system that treats our attention as a commodity.
When we give our full attention to another person, to a task, or to a moment, we're not spending a limited resource—we're cultivating a deeper form of awareness that actually increases our capacity for connection and understanding. It's an acknowledgment of the inherent worth of the moment, the person, the experience before you. It's a declaration that right now, right here, is ENOUGH. In a world of constant acceleration, choosing to be fully present is a revolutionary act.
This is a mindset of abundance. If we pay attention to our customers or audience and try to understand their desires and problems, then they will put us in the spotlight. If we listen to our employees, acknowledge and respect them, they will reward us with their commitment, ideas, and loyalty. When we pay attention to our loved ones, we receive support, joy, and love. Attention is abundant.
Who gives, receives. When we give attention with intention, we get attentive behavior back.
Neurological research reveals that each moment of genuine presence creates new connections in our brain, expanding our cognitive flexibility and emotional intelligence. It's as if attention is a muscle that grows stronger the more intentionally we use it, rather than a battery that runs down with use.
Having said this, I offer you a different perspective: Attention is not something you run out of—it's something you cultivate. Cultivating an attentive approach to life results in a humane, respectful, and kind approach to yourself, others, and the workplace. It results in becoming a better version of yourself, a better leader, friend, and partner.
Practical Strategies for Abundant Attention
“Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.”- Jim Rohn
Intentional Presence: Start with small moments. Put down your phone during conversations. Make eye contact. Listen without preparing your response.
Setting Boundaries: Recognize that saying "no" to distraction is saying "yes" to what truly matters.
Attention as a Practice: Like meditation, paying attention is a skill that improves with consistent effort.
