Yes, Gem, most people are distracted and unaware. I feel that given the interconnectness of us all, that our own being undistracted and aware helps the whole of humanity.
I've recently had trouble with new neighbours who are atheists and live their lives as the only one they will ever have. They have no concept of anyone else's needs or rights and go around obliviously upsetting people. As anger arose with me, I asked one of my Spirit Guides why they had moved in next to me and not someone who was on my own 'wavelength'. The response was that they had not been placed there to be a thorn in my side, but to benefit from being close to me. Hmmm another way of looking at the same situation!