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Shift Your Attention, Transform Your Year
Setting the tone for a year of intention and growth.
Arnelle & Emil Lozada
January 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
As our first newsletter of 2025, we’re shifting focus this week — from travel and home tips to the idea of intentional living and reflections to carry into the year ahead. While scrolling through social media last week, we stumbled upon a post that resonated deeply, offering a powerful sentiment we felt the need to share here.
In our hyper-connected world, where screens often mediate our experiences and decisions, the principle "what you pay attention to expands" feels particularly poignant. The original message reminds us that acknowledgment and focus can shape not only our children’s behavior but also our perception of the world at large. This isn’t just a parenting strategy; it’s a life philosophy. What we attend to grows in influence, shaping the paths we walk, the opportunities we recognize, and the stories we tell ourselves.
The idea takes on added gravity when we consider how technology and algorithms have weaponized our attention. Each scroll, click, or lingering gaze feeds an artificial intelligence designed to serve us more of the same. It’s a feedback loop that can affirm the positive — or exacerbate the negative. As we enter this new year, the challenge lies in reclaiming agency over our focus. What if we could become intentional stewards of our attention, directing it toward what uplifts, inspires, or fosters growth, rather than what drains or distorts? This shift could be one of the most impactful resolutions we make.
Something we struggle with daily is that these days, it can feel impossible — and even irresponsible — to look away from our screens. The world is grappling with countless crises simultaneously: raging wildfires, heartbreaking massacres, and the relentless tide of human suffering. Staying informed feels like the least we can do, yet it often leaves us feeling powerless and overwhelmed. But perhaps this very moment, heavy with urgency, is a call to create lasting change in our own lives and communities. By choosing to focus our attention on what we can nurture and improve, we reclaim the power to act — not just consume — building a foundation for hope and progress in a world that desperately needs both.
The power of attention isn’t just psychological or philosophical — it’s actionable. It invites us to step back, recalibrate, and wield this power with care. If the world keeps expanding what we notice, then choosing where we look becomes a radical act of self-determination. Let’s make 2025 a year of intentional attention — toward what truly matters, what heals, and what builds.
📝 5 Actionable Takeaways to Expand the Good 📝
Audit Your Digital Consumption
Set a daily time limit for apps that tend to hijack your attention. Use tools like app timers or focus modes to ensure your time is spent intentionally rather than mindlessly. We use Opal and their free plan works great.Practice Gratitude Scanning
Similar to the advice for parenting, train yourself to notice and acknowledge the positive. At the end of each day, write down three things that went well and why they mattered to you.Curate Your Inputs
Follow creators, accounts, or channels that inspire growth, positivity, and learning. Unfollow or mute those that contribute to feelings of inadequacy or negativity. Some accounts we follow for positive news are @goodnews_movement, @goodgoodgoodco and @good.Schedule Screen-Free Time
Dedicate specific periods of your day to being completely offline. Use that time to focus on relationships, hobbies, or even just being present with yourself.Pause and Reflect Regularly
Before engaging with your phone or a screen, take a moment to ask yourself: Am I choosing this, or is it choosing me? Use this pause to ensure that your attention aligns with your intentions.
📺 WATCHING → Our Great National Parks on Netflix. We’re late to the party on this one, but we love it. Narrated by former President Barack Obama, this stunning documentary series that takes you on a journey through some of the most breathtaking and diverse landscapes on Earth. It’s not just visually mesmerizing — it’s also a heartfelt reminder of the beauty we share and our responsibility to protect it. If you love nature, storytelling, and a little bit of wanderlust, this series is an absolute must-watch.
📙 READING → Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything, by Jim R. Doty, MD. What better way to start the year than with a powerful book on manifestation? This is one of those books that gently rewires the way you think about the power of your mind and heart. Doty, a neurosurgeon with a deeply human perspective, shares personal stories and practical tools that reveal how mindfulness, intention, and compassion can truly shape our lives. It's not just another self-help book — it feels like sitting down with someone who’s been through it and wants to share something that might just change everything for you.
🎧 LISTENING TO → The Pivot Year audiobook by Brianna Wiest. This is like a gentle guide for anyone standing at a crossroads, wondering how to move forward. Through beautifully reflective essays, she explores growth, self-discovery, and the quiet power of choosing yourself in moments of change. It’s the kind of book that feels like a warm conversation with a wise friend, reminding you that even the smallest shifts can lead to transformative change.
Small decisions, every day. That’s what determines who you are and what kind of life you lead. With every decision you make, claim who you want to be.