STRONGER TOGETHER: Oops, I Drifted Again – A Mindful Reframe Inspired by Tara Brach

"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya discusses how moments of distraction can be reframed as mindful invitations to reconnect with ourselves, inspired by Tara Brach’s teachings on self-compassion and the power of pausing.

By IMPACT Community Services Managing Director Tanya O'Shea

It happened during a Monday morning meeting. I was nodding along, half-listening, when I noticed a magpie outside the window hopping along the railing. For a moment, I was completely absorbed, not in the budget forecast, but in the bird’s curious dance. Then came the familiar tug of guilt: Focus! You’re drifting again.

But what if that moment wasn’t a lapse? What if it was a whisper from within?

In her book Trusting the Gold, psychologist and meditation teacher Tara Brach invites us to rethink distraction. Rather than treating it as a failure of attention, she suggests it may be an invitation, a gentle nudge back to ourselves.

Distraction as a Doorway

We live in a culture that celebrates productivity and precision. Distraction, in this context, feels like a threat. But Brach’s teachings remind us that beneath our striving lies a quiet truth: we are already enough. Her concept of “trusting the gold” is about recognising our innate goodness, even in moments that feel messy or off-track.

That wandering mind? It might be pointing us toward something we need: rest, creativity, connection. When we meet distraction with curiosity instead of criticism, we begin to see it not as a detour, but as a doorway.

The Power of the Pause

One of Brach’s most transformative practices is the pause. In the space between stimulus and response, we find freedom. Pausing when we’re distracted allows us to ask: What’s really happening here? What am I feeling? What do I need?

This gentle inquiry turns distraction into a teacher. It helps us reconnect with our values, our emotions, and our bodies. It’s mindfulness in motion.

A Compassionate Lens

Too often, we judge ourselves harshly for being “unfocused.” But Brach encourages a more compassionate view. We are not broken; we are beautifully human. By embracing distraction with kindness, we cultivate resilience and self-compassion.

Reflective Prompts for Your Day

To bring this into your own life or leadership practice, consider:

• What distractions show up most often for me?
• What might they be trying to tell me?
• Can I pause and meet them with curiosity instead of judgment?

Distraction isn’t the enemy of mindfulness; it’s part of the journey. And when we trust the gold within ourselves, even our wandering minds become sacred ground.