Pay Attention!

Probably, very few of us can remember the first time we heard that instruction.

But - we know it happened way back when we were children.

And - for some of us, it happened quite a bit.

Yet - who has ever taken the time to tell us how to do it?

Answer...Edward de Bono¹.

Here is an introduction to a simple tool de Bono presented in his book 'Water Logic'.

First...about Directing Attention, de Bono explained:

Attention flow is determined by:

• what is out there, the outer world
• our standard perceptual patterns
• the context of the moment and
• what we are trying to do

Then de Bono presented his simple attention-directing, thinking, tool... 

PMI (Plus-Minus-Interesting)

You can develop your faculty of ATTENTION by taking the time to focus on 3 things:

• the Plus aspects of the situation
• the Minus aspects of the situation
• the Interesting aspects of the situation

de Bono clarified, "PMI is not at all natural. Rather, it is natural to interpret, recognize, and judge as quickly as possible. PMI ensures a basic exploration of the subject before judgment."

The way I describe it...

PMI is provocative. It disrupts the normal [natural] way our brains/minds function. It enables our thoughts to escape from deeply-patterned ruts. When our thoughts get out of the ruts the neurons in our brains say to one another, "Wait a nanosecond here...something isn't right...we better pay attention to this." The next thing our minds know...we are paying attention. In essence, when we use PMI we trick our brains into allowing our minds to pay attention. And, if we practice PMI until it becomes a Habit then that Habit will be a good one.

The Good Habit will be the strength/skill known as the ability to Pay Attention!

PS: If you have not tried PMI before then, for you...it is a New Thing.

Footnote

1. 'Water Logic' (1991)

100 years ago, the great British philosopher, James Allen¹, described the process of how needs and wants develop and how they span the gap between Inaction and Action.

Here's the picture:²

INACTION

1. Perception: Objects of Sensation perceived as such.
2. Cogitation: Objects of Sensation considered as a source of pleasure.
3. Conception: Objects of Sensation conceived as affording pleasure.
4. Attraction: Objects of Sensation perceived as pleasurable in possession.
5. Desire: Objects of Sensation coveted as such: i.e., desired for personal delight and pleasure

Footnotes:

1. About James Allen
2. Source: 'Men and Systems', published in 1915, 3 years after James Allen's passing
3. Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things

Thought Tweet #434 Sure it's difficult: that's why they call it work.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

But, Difficult should not mean Unpleasant.

Physically-difficult work burns up energy in muscles, etc. It strengthens the muscles...that's a good thing...unless you're lazy, in which case physically-difficult work would be annoying.

Cognitively-difficult work burns up energy in neurons and other places. It strengthens neuronal connections...that's a good thing...unless you're lazy...then work, again, would become annoying.

About being annoyed or stressed out, etc: the cause behind negative feelings is not work. So, let's not place the blame on work when, in fact, there is another culprit.