Paying Attention

I recently listened to 1A, an NPR show that explores current events.  A recent episode featured Marc Berman, Ph.D.  a University of Chicago professor and pioneer in environmental neuroscience.  He talked about how spending time in nature improves health.  I would love to spend more time in nature, but it’s not possible in my current life.  It’s great when people can hike nearby mountains or spend time at a beach with a loved one, but I am not one of those people.

However, Dr. Berman really focused on the modern attention crisis.  During the interview, I thought about times when I should have paid more attention to the people I care about or my own physical and mental well-being.  He talked about directed attention and involuntary attention.  Directed attention is what we decide we’re going to pay attention to (i.e., watch a movie, engage in conversation, write emails).  Involuntary attention is when we can’t help but pay attention (i.e., a fire alarm activating, bright lights, or a co-worker who talks to himself nearby).

The idea is that we need to improve our directed attention, so we can better engage with the world around us.  Instead, we tend to scroll on the phone while watching a show or respond to a text while engaging in conversation with someone in front of you.  The best way to restore directed attention is to do something that takes some amount of attention, but not all our attention.  Dr. Berman argues the best way to improve directed attention is to be in nature.  In nature you can look at a waterfall or a field of sunflowers, but you can still think about other things.  However, if you can’t be in nature, you can still get the same benefit by going outside and listening to birds, looking at trees, or feeling the wind on your face.

Paying attention seems like an easy thing to do.  However, it feels like it’s becoming more difficult all the time.  The hour we spend at Peace is a time of attention.  It is a time to slow down and listen to music and focus on the words.  Lately, I have not been paying attention to the things that matter to me.  I am going to start now by looking out my window at nature.

Dear One,

Help me to notice the monarch butterfly on the native plants my friend helped me to plant, the way my son’s voice gets excited when the Royals win, or how confident my daughter walks when she’s leading her favorite horse.  Help me see the good in this world today and always.

Amen

Michelle is an Occupational Safety and Health Manager with the Department of Veterans Affairs. She’s a wife, mother, sister, and friend, a chocolate and coffee lover, reader of books, listener of podcasts, and a travel enthusiast.