Why we focus on trivial things

— 5 minute read

Recently I read this article on the Farnam Street blog that spoke about how people focus on trivial things. I learnt there were formal names to concepts I have heard from people before. Specifically:

  • Parkinson’s Law which states that tasks expand to fill the amount of time allocated to them.
  • The Law of Triviality which states that the amount of time spent discussing an issue in an organization is inversely correlated to its actual importance in the scheme of things. In other words, major, complex issues get the least discussion while simple, minor ones get the most discussion.

I heard about the first law over a decade ago, from one of my seniors at work. I was talking to him about how I sometimes was able to get a lot done in a short amount of time, but some other times, I rarely get even simple things done despite spending a lot of time. He made a quick remark that went something like: “oh yeah, work expands to fill the available time, always!”. At that time I didn’t fully grasp the depth of that thought, but it still stuck with me over the years. Now I know his point was based on Parkinson’s law.

While it seems obvious that simple, everyday topics get a lot of comment from almost everyone, and deep, niche topics rarely get talked about in a group setting, this was still new to me that someone formulated this as a law. Thinking about the need to comment on something, I wonder if it is about people wanting to make a good impression on others. To assert and keep re-asserting that they are good, knowledgeable people who are worthy of praise and admiration.

I do not claim to be immune from this, as I often struggle to stay quiet in a group conversation. I have to constantly keep asking myself: do I have something meaningful to say? am I really listening to what the other person is trying to convey? Am I listening to reply (at the first chance I get) or do I seek to understand them first? Perhaps this is insecurity, perhaps impatience at mundane chatter; either way, I think it is a common struggle — something that people may not often vocalize.

Of course, not everyone experiences this desire to say something in the same way. As I think more about this, I look to what the Bible has to say about this topic, and there are quite a few points:

  • Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (Philippians 2:3) This is a direct call to value other people, including their time and attention, in everything we say and do around them. This is challenging because, almost always, our own well-being is at the forefront of our minds. But if we are to value others more than ourselves, we would not be seeking to focus on talking about trivialities - trying to establish our own perceived superiority. In a world where stepping on others to get ahead is common, this verse calls for the exact opposite, from the inside out.

  • From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:20-21) While this verse is filled with metaphors about food and the body, the central point is that the words we speak have tremendous power: to build up someone's hopes or to shred it to pieces, to encourage someone or to make them hurt, afraid and hopeless. And this is not just about speaking the right words to others. It is equally important that we are careful about the words we speak to (and about) ourselves. There is no room for mindless chatter in this context.

  • But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. (Matthew 12:36) This verse reminds us of the Judgement Day when Jesus comes again — not as a helpless baby in a manger, but as a King — to judge the living and the dead on how they spent their life on earth. It is sobering reminder that our words will be one of the judgement criteria that will be used on that Day. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in His sight! (Psalm 19:14)

  • Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Even though this verse does not directly talk about words, I added it here because I felt it focussed on our intent. The context of this verse in chapter 9 is being generous in giving to others. But I felt it made the overall point that our true intentions and motivations matter: in sharing our money, time, and certainly words. I feel called to be a cheerful giver of all that I have.

If you have thoughts about this topic, do let me know.