Pay Attention to Your Attention

Podcast Summary

🎙️ Pay Attention to Your Attention

What has your attention right now?

Social media. Entertainment. Food. Fear. Other people's drama. Your phone.

We often think the things we casually watch, listen to, and think about aren't affecting us. But your attention is one of the most valuable resources you have—and whatever you repeatedly give it to begins taking up space in your inner world.

In this episode, Tombo Baldwin gets painfully honest about his own attention. From ridiculous TikTok rabbit holes and scripted second-date drama to jalapeño corn dogs, he explores how one small thought can become a full-grown desire simply because we keep feeding it.

The question isn't just, "What am I watching?"

The better question is:

"What am I growing?"

Tombo introduces another simple tool for the YUP Toolbox: the Keep Bin and the Trash Bin. When a thought, image, or story enters your mind, make a conscious decision. Is this something worth planting in your Best Reality Now—or does it belong in the trash?

You don't have unlimited attention.

So stop giving your most valuable resource to things that don't deserve it.

Pay attention to your attention.

Because what you feed grows.

YUP. I GOT YOU.

🎙️ Listen, connect, and explore more:

🔗 Tombo Baldwin's Linktree

Transcript

0:38

I'm so glad you're all here. Ah, thank you for listening, each and every one of you. You're so special. And I often say yuppers, and it's because we're all, you know, we're all together. We're like, yep, that's right. Yep, that's right. So yuppers unite. We're gonna change this world. You're already changing this world. If you are a regular or semi-regular listener, you're already doing the hard work. And there's just not enough affirmations that go around. So I'm just gonna say it, and you just take it in. I'm proud of you. You're doing the hard work. You're such an amazing person. You deserve the best reality now. Way to go. So proud of you. Well, today's episode I'm so excited for because I'm excited about every episode. I love doing the podcast. I love that my family listens. And just a shout out to them. It's like, I love feedback. And I know a lot of you, you're like me. You don't wanna give a review, and you don't wanna leave feedback. And it's like, ah, blah, blah, blah. So I'm very thankful for my family. They give me feedback on the podcast, and it's super helpful. And if any of you would like to join that family by following and just following and leaving a review, and if you want to send me an email about what is meaningful, you don't have to. You absolutely don't have to. You don't have to subscribe. And I think in the last podcast episode, I told you, you get most of what I got already without subscribing, so don't subscribe. But if you leave me a review, as you'll hear in the end, I have bumper stickers. I will send you one free of charge. I will pay for the postage, and I will mail it, and I will actually, not that you lick stamps anymore, but if you did lick stamps, I'd lick the stamps, but I'll probably put it in an envelope where I don't have to lick where it's the peel stuff and not the, you know. Oh my gosh, yeah, I said in a previous podcast that I had AI review my podcast, and it was like too much blah, blah, blah, blah. So we're trying to keep the blah, blah, blah to a minimum. And we're trying to stay focused. Today I wanna talk about something that I have, nah, I'm not gonna say struggle because I don't like the word struggle. I have been learning to do over the last couple weeks and have realized an incredible amount of impact that it has on my life and living in the best reality now. Having the best reality now, existing in that space and realizing reality's fluid and that as I want to live and be in the best reality now, the things that I have to do to have that come about and how wonderful a lot of those things are. You think about living in the best reality now and the way you fight the battle to live in the best reality now or think about things that are lovely, joyful, wonderful, peaceful. I mean, what a fight. You look at artwork, you look at the sunset, you listen to a beautiful piece of music, you read a beautiful piece of poetry, you read a beautiful short story and the things that cause your mind to dwell and be full of color, those wonderful, bright, delightful colors. Those are the things that help you manifest the best reality now. And it's so amazing. So why do we not do that? Well, that's what we wanna talk about in today's podcast and we're gonna talk about a word that you probably heard growing up from your parents or a phrase you heard from your parents and your teachers, pay attention. And we're all about attention today and this became really clear to me in the last couple of weeks as like you and I've stated this before in previous podcasts, I also struggle with social media consumption, being on the phone and looking at social media and the second thing that I struggle with is TV and even with the phone, it's I love Audible and I listen to books and I love podcasts and I listen to podcasts as I'm working and I'm doing it, manifesting the best reality now and things are changing, the reality is fluid and outcomes are improving and becoming better and better and better and in the moments even today, I had a great moment of like a challenge in my life that became a growth thing that got leveraged in the gratitude that became joy, it's amazing but in the last couple of weeks, I've just been, I don't know, probably this is the best way to put it, become on a very short leash as far as my attention and what I give my attention to and my thoughts and those of you that are consumers of social media and whatever your algorithm puts in, you know, it tends to go to the things that you give attention to and so your algorithm tends to be dominated by what you give attention to so like as we are, and I put myself on this boat too because I'm right there, as we're doom scrolling our attention and the things we focus our eyes on, those are the things that keep showing up more and more and the really good algorithms, I think TikTok has one of the better algorithms as you're scrolling, you know, it's giving you more and more of that which you like and you see creators and influencers come up that you either watch all their content or most of their content and more and more of their content comes up but then it also does this odd thing where it just pops up something random just to say, hey, would you like this as some of your attention too? And so let's just switch, let's go to Netflix and as you watch Netflix or Amazon Prime or Hulu or Paramount or whatever your thing is or, you know, or like what happened now is like we have them all, like when there was cable and then you had to subscribe to independent channels and Netflix came along, oh, you only have to do this one thing and now you have to do all those other things and that's a whole nother story that we're not gonna go down but all those platforms, you know, they dial into it, you watch, oh, you may also like this and you may also like that. Well, I'll tell you the one thing that I never like and those of you that like it, I'd like to hear your argument why it's good and why you watch it is horror. I've never liked horror, I had no desire to watch horror. I watched some horror movies when I was young because, you know, as a teenager, like, oh, this is not, we're not supposed to do this so we should do this and I remember watching it and being like, oh, I'm never gonna watch that again. So I'm watching Netflix and, you know, and then, you know, it's our Amazon Prime and recommended, and then they'll put something like that and you're like, what the hell? It is to see, are you interested, will you watch this? And as I did in my podcast, Operating Scripts, which if you haven't listened to it, is a powerful podcast and it plays directly into this because there are operating scripts out there in movies, in social media, and even in podcasts that really create a narrative and create a worldview and create a way of thinking that are part of them that begin to influence our lives because what we give attention to, more of that shows up in our lives. Our lives are a lot like TikTok and like these Netflix and recommended show. And when you give attention to, your brain tends to focus on more and so your thoughts tend to focus on more. And so in these past couple of weeks, as I was giving attention to, oh, you guys are gonna laugh, it's so stupid. And I'm kind of embarrassed, but you know, at this point, I might as well just get it out there. When I'm on TikTok, you know, I love the quantum stuff. I love, you know, the things that talk about, you know, the things that change your reality and, you know, the Neville Goddard things that come about and the other things that come about. I love those. The things that I also love that are not part of that and are the things in social media that I'm not necessarily embarrassed about, but they're silly. And I know these things are scripted and I just can't get enough of them. And I don't know why, because I think it's like soap operas. When I was young, my brother and I, I think was like 13 and my brother was like 11 and I spent a summer with him in Ohio. He was living with my mom and I went down there for a good portion of the summer. And we got hooked on this stupid, stupid soap opera, Santa Barbara. And it was like, it got so bad that we made sure we were always home to watch it so we could know the next thing that came up. And it was just, it was soap opera trash, right? And it's like, so-and-so and whose baby is this? And how's so-and-so seeing this? And I'm, you know, and there's this evil bad guy. I'm, you know, just ridiculous. So this is a lead in. They have these things on TikTok, the second date update where someone goes out on a date and the person doesn't call them or text them back and they call the radio show and the radio show got addicted to these things. I don't know why, because I know they're scripted and they're all acted out, but it's like the soap opera thing. And I'm like, dude, even as I'm listening to them, I'm like, why are you listening to those? And so that, and the other thing is like comedy. And I like a good joke as anybody else, but the more you listen to the comedy, the edgier and the edgier and the edgier it gets. And it's like, you're kind of like that frog in the pot of water where they turn up the heat slowly and slowly. And then pretty soon the frog doesn't run. And pretty soon, you know, I'm watching these comedy things. I'm like, what the hell are you watching? I can't believe what they're talking about. And so as I'm watching the algorithms ringing more and more of this into my life, okay? And let's just go back. This is Tombo Baldwin, who believes within all of us are divine tools. We have divine antennas. We are divine beings. We're meant for this wonderful destined purpose to make a difference, impact healing and wholeness and focus on the best reality now is giving his attention to this crap. And guess what goes through my mind after I stopped listening to him. I'm wondering on the second date updates, you know, when they're like, oh, we'll go out again. I'm like, oh, I wonder what happened on their date. And I wonder why it's stupid because it's all imagination. It's all made up. And this powerful resource between Tom's ears, I also believe it exists in other places, but we'll just use the brain, has his attention and focus on stuff that's not even happening now, playing out a scenario that's not even real. Oh my gosh. What you give your attention to will manifest more in your world. And if you're like me and you want to live the best reality now, your attention is a precious resource. You have so much time. Now, I believe time is also relative and you can expand it, but think about it. I'll listen to these second date updates and maybe they'll go part one, part two, part three. So they could be anywhere from eight to maybe 15 minutes long, something like that. So that's 15 minutes. How much time do I spend thinking about it? How much time do I spend thinking about how the people looked on the second date update? How much time do I think about imagining the scenario if they described the event and the things that happened? All made up. All ridiculous, okay? Nothing lovely, beautiful or anything about, other than it's somewhat entertaining and you get a chuckle to, how long does that exist in my attention? How much resources are used up? And then I complain. Well, I don't, because I try not to complain anymore. I do not complain. But how much of that valuable resource of attention, which could have been going to living that best reality now, expressing gratitude, looking and listening to things that are lovely. I've been listening to some of these classical science fiction works, you know, like science fiction, but some of the plots and morals on these things and themes of these are beautiful. And they speak to the soul and to your spirit and they bring warmth and of loyalty and brotherhood and camaraderie. And you're just like, oh my gosh. And I'm listening to the second date update. When I listen to these other things or I listen to music and it just soothes and it puts my mind in a place of beauty and I see color and my imagination is like lit up and there's colors of the rainbow and flashing lights. And it's like all of a sudden I'm having insights into the quantum kingdom of heaven realm and I'm having breakthroughs in my own identity moving towards my own authenticity. And then I put just a piece of rotten trash in the middle of it. So it's just like, and sometimes these second date updates have like hookups and it's like, I believe in covenant relationships. I love my wife dearly and the life I have with her is a beautiful life. But we live in this world and we're sexual beings. And when we enter those things, it's like trash and rot. And you're just like, there's this hookup and she did this. And it's like, then you're mine, especially if you're a man. But I think these days the women too naturally goes to that place and it's just rot in there. It's not living the best reality now. I can't tell you, and I know in this culture it's becoming more and more rare what a covenant, and maybe you don't know what covenant is, it's a committed relationship to one person that you're gonna live this life and you're gonna commit yourself, your service, your love, your wholeness to this one person. And it is a beautiful thing. And in this culture is something that's becoming less and less in a hookup culture. And so that is who I am. Why is my attention going to that? And the brain, it just needs a little spark and a fire starts. And it's a fire of thoughts that continue along that line and continue to grow. And you have to consciously put it out. And so like the rest of you, and those of you that are listening and you're like, oh, I don't do that. I watch that stuff. It doesn't affect me. I'm just gonna say something and you need to listen very carefully. And I'm saying this as kindly as possible. That's bullshit, okay? It's bullshit. It is bullshit. It is bullshit and it is bullshit. What you take in and what you give your attention to is using valuable resources that need to go to something else. And so this podcast, this is all about your attention is a commodity and it's like an investment. And when you plant it in a good place, like in a best reality now, and you're like, well, my best reality now is having a harem. It's like, well, maybe you're listening to the wrong podcast or my best reality now is just gonna have a bunch of wives or a bunch of girls. Well, you're definitely in the wrong podcast. The best reality now is a place where we reach a place of coherence, of authenticity that all the things within us, all of our attentions, all of our desires, everything of who we are and who we are created to be, our divine purpose align and work in coherence together. And when our attention, and when we're putting our attention in our best reality now, and our attentions are planting seeds that are beautiful, like when you watch, and if you watch social media, and this is what I'm working towards, I am not a work of perfection here. I'm like the rest of you. And I have moments where I'm just tired and exhausted and I wanna listen to something stupid, but the key here is it's not worth it. You're worth so much more. Your value is so much more. My value is so much more valuable than a cheap moment of entertainment, pleasure, whatever it is. And I've had to do this also in the realm of food. Like when I'm paying attention and I'll get this thought and you guys will laugh, and then some of you will be like, oh my gosh, I totally get this. I start thinking of like, and maybe this isn't your vice, put your vice in there. Maybe yours is Ben and Jerry's ice cream, which that's also one of my vices, and like fish food and stuff. But I'll get in my mind in the morning and it maybe happened that I went in a gas station to get, I don't even know, there's not anything in a gas station I want even anymore. It's like none of the drinks or things I would drink, except for they do sell lollipops. I go in and get an lollipop in the morning to take with me to work. And I see in the case, there's a jalapeno corn dog. I'll be like, no, or I'll be like, oh, just one, no. And I'll leave. And I can't put that thought down because I leave and I was like, oh yeah, those were really fresh. And I think about it all day. And then I'm driving home and coincidentally I'm right by a gas station. I've given that thought attention all day long. Okay, let's not even think about the other things I could have been thinking about and investing because your best reality now is an investment and it takes investment of attention when your intention's directed towards gratitude and giving attention to lovely, beautiful, just, right things, what's growing. I'm giving my attention to 100% synthetic, no natural, poisonous, probably all kinds of thoughts there all day long. And if you're like me and you know, and you've thought about it, you've grown it, that desire in the morning was small. That desire by the time you drive home is monstrous. It's like that with everything. Second date update, what are your things? What are your things that draw you from the good, lovely, peaceful, beautiful things? What is it that you watch and you're like, well, Tom, it's nothing as trashy as the second date update. Well, where is it? Is it a 10? Nope. Well, then it ain't. A 10 is good, right, beautiful, lovely, anything less isn't that. And it really comes to the point is like, what do you want? And it's a good question to ask yourself because if you don't want this, if you don't want the best reality now because we talked about in previous podcasts, there are things that you have to let go of, like the past, the familiar dysfunction, the familiar ways of operating, the familiar habits. If you don't want to give those up and if the best reality now, the reality that the outcomes are beautiful and the life is beautiful and the life has meaning and purpose, isn't enough to have you give up these other things and move away from, retire them, thank them for their service. They've served you in surviving, right? Surviving, quote, unquote, they've served you in surviving. You need to stop listening and just abandon the journey and you might as well enjoy your life and give yourself over to that. There becomes a point where you need to make a decision. I know I'm starting to sound like some preacher here, but why make yourself miserable like just kind of going back and forth and not, you're just like, you're not living the best reality now and you're dabbling over here and that place of indecision causes something very toxic and detrimental. It's better that you stop than go to that place. What is toxic and detrimental is you will stop believing the best reality now is possible because you haven't put the effort in and you haven't moved from that world of dysfunction and the things you're giving attention to, they're just, they're too comfortable and you need those. And so you're just gonna stay in that place. Your mind will convince yourself. So it's better that you just quit now and still believe that that is a possibility than to stay there. Your attention, it sounds simple, but it matters even in the smallest thing. And social media by any means these days isn't small and there are all kinds of things that bombard social media. I'm amazed at what they think and sneak into social media. The violence, the occult, the religious stuff, the critical spirit stuff, the sexual stuff, the innuendos and the whole culture of sex that just like pop in for a blip. Oh, did you watch it? Oh, pop in a little more. Oh, did you watch it? Pop in a little more. It's so crazy, the algorithm. I mean, it would be really interesting to have like AI track your social media and then tell you what you value. And I bet it's way, way different than you think. It's the same thing where people are like with their checkbooks and their finances. Oh, I don't spend a lot of money on that. And then someone goes through and they add up all the stuff and they're like, holy crap. For one, I know, because I've done this and I need to put this out back in my phone that just tracks the time you spend on social media. You'll be shocked, really. I mean, it's a testimony. Do you wanna live the best reality now? Do you wanna have a life of meaning and purpose? Or is it just good to be on your phone? Scroll, doom, scroll, doom, scroll, doom, scroll. Doomed life. Probably one of the most disturbing things I see time and time and time again. And even in my household, not as much, but I still see it. There's a room full of beautiful human souls, amazing people, amazing conversations ready to happen, amazing human interaction, and they're all on their phone. No attentions given to the human being. The phone. You do, you love it, don't you? That's what you value. Is it what I value? It's a question I struggle with. Could I just give it up? Could I go back to a landline or a dumb phone? How much attention does your device have? So we're gonna end on a happy note because some kind of went down the doom and gloom and I think we need to go there because it's a real issue in our society and we're moving towards a place. Oh, I'm just gonna go here for a minute. If you've interacted with AI like online, with like ChatGBT or Grok or Claude, you'll find out how easy and how friendly and complimentary these apps are that it would be really easy to develop a friendship with them and not have to rely on human interaction and give your attention to an artificial intelligence if that's all that it is. We are divine. We need to give attention to the things that are important. Human beings are important. Real, lived life is important. Real, lived, authentic experiences of beauty and wonder, amazement, loveliness, justice are important. Do me a favor. Just take a quick assessment of what you give your attention to, be honest. And there are so many things out there. There are things that I didn't touch in this podcast that are real and things that I've dealt with in my life that even Adrian and I talked about this week and the impact of our sexual culture and the porn and the hookup culture and the impact and the potential that people give that of what is seemingly a free and without consequence life and the amount of thought and planning that goes into things like that and people that get hooked up and snared and lives that are torn apart instead of giving attention to the good stuff. And I know there are many people that deal with sexual addictions. It's a real thing. It's a thing that I've dealt with and it's not a fun thing, but there is what you give your attention to matters and there is a beautiful best reality now there for you that is beautiful, that isn't perverted, that isn't twisted, that isn't sick, it is beautiful. And the best way to start is small. And I developed this thing in my mind and this is a great trick and it works great for me. And so it's not even a trick, it's a method. In my mind, I have a keep bin and I have a trash bin. And when a thought comes in, and I'm on social media and something comes across and I was like, oh yeah, that appeals to my other instincts, I'm like, trash can. And I just throw it in the trash can, shut the lid. And for me, and I believe it can work for you, it goes away because the reason it goes away is because you made a conscious choice. You chose to get rid of it and you took the action, even though it was in your mind, you took the action. And when there's a thought that's good, because oftentimes when I watch TikTok, I'm moved to tears by some of these stories. I'm like, that's a keep, that is a beautiful, delicate, intimate show of humanity's compassion and I'm keeping that. Two bins, keep, trash. And just those thoughts or those little things that wanna take your attention, just be like, nope, nope. Works really good. Hey, I kinda went long on this. It is so important and I could go even longer, but start paying attention to what you're paying attention to because it is, how can I say this nicely? It is affecting your reality. Hey, I got you, I do, as always, I got you. I'm thinking about you, you're in my prayers, and hey, go make a difference.