Why Your Attention is Such a Precious Commodity

One of our most prized possessions is our attention. 

Our attention is certainly valued by others: simply by being able to command and direct the attention of others, companies like Google, X, and Microsoft have generated trillions of dollars.

And we all know that one of the best ways you can honor your loved ones is just to pay attention to them.

Attention is one of the key markers that separates humans from other animals. When we try to define consciousness, for example, it is almost exclusively done by looking at the quality of awareness.

Unfortunately, we often fail to make deliberate or constructive use of our attention. Instead, we often operate on autopilot, being guided by our subconscious programming.

The way we direct our attention literally creates our experience of life. As William James, the father of American psychology, once said, "My experience is what I agree to attend to." This profound statement highlights how our focus shapes our reality. When we pay attention to the positive aspects of our lives, we tend to experience more joy and gratitude. Conversely, when we fixate on negative thoughts or experiences, we may find ourselves stuck in a cycle of negativity.

If you want to change anything at all, paying attention will be at the heart of it. You have to become aware of what it is that you're doing currently that you want to change. And bringing that attention to what you want to change can be extremely difficult.

Why? Because we are virtually hypnotized by our subconscious and our social programming to pay attention in a certain way to certain things. The social programming comes from culture, language, upbringing, day to day interactions with others, education, and media to name just a few sources.

Let's look at language because it is relatively easy to see and has such a huge influence. It's not easy to think about, or speak about, something you have no word for. You can sort of dance around the subject but it's hard to really capture the idea in your thinking when the idea is unnamed.

For example, there's this oft-cited idea that the Inuits have thirteen different words for what we in English might call snow or sleet. In their environment, they need those distinctions. But let's imagine an Inuit comes to Minnesota and starts looking at the snow. She would probably see the snow in a very different way than your average Minnesotan. Her language literally gives her a lens to look though to perceive the world.

So, this is my call to wake up. To pay attention to what you are paying attention to. If you don't like the results you are creating in your life, scrutinize what you are paying to. That's where you can start to make a change.

But how can we practically improve our attention and use it more consciously? Here are a few tips:

1. Practice mindfulness: Start with just 5 minutes a day of focusing on your breath or bodily sensations. This trains your brain to be more present and aware.

2. Do a daily attention audit: At the end of each day, reflect on where your attention went. Was it aligned with your goals and values?

3. Use the "stop, look, go" technique: Throughout the day, pause (stop), observe your thoughts and surroundings (look), then proceed mindfully (go). Set a timer on your phone to prompt you.

4. Limit distractions: Identify your biggest attention-stealers and create strategies to minimize them. This might mean turning off notifications or designating specific times for email and social media.

5. Cultivate curiosity: Approach your experiences with genuine interest. 

Remember, as Thich Nhat Hanh wisely noted, "The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it." By consciously directing our attention, we can transform our experience of life and create the changes we desire.

So, wake up! Pay attention to your attention. It's the first step towards living a more conscious, intentional life."