If the act of “noticing” prepared you to make the changes you desired in your life, would you work on it? We operate on autopilot most of the time and neuroscientists tell us our brain prefers this as a means to preserve energy. What if you simply increased the noticing or intention by 1 percent?. Choose what you want to start noticing and see what you learn?
As a professional leadership and business coach and performance consultant, I practice noticing intentionally. To develop my skill of noticing I first worked on (and still do) noticing in myself. I learned I have some strange thoughts and I noticed how constant the thoughts come and move on without me taking note, unless I intentionally focus on them. I notice I make judgements about people and myself frequently during the day. (In the case of this blog entry I am noticing my discomfort in using the spelling “practice” over “practise” and yet I am choosing the spelling intentionally!) I noticed how, by noticing these judgements, I was able to be more generous with myself and others while also realizing all the learning and growth available to me. It all starts with noticing; sounds simple!
I have practiced various forms of meditation since my mid twenties which has enhanced my ability to notice. Mindfulness activities like meditation, journaling, body work (including massage therapy, reiki, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, power napping, guided visualization, breathe work and such) prepare you to be “present” for yourself and others. In my experience, any one or a combination of these disciplines support the act of noticing. Two questions: what if I don’t want to use these disciplines, AND, is it ever simple?
Not simple at all. To notice requires discipline; remember, a part of our brain works against this notion because it frankly is more work for the brain. Just as you feel a sense of satisfaction when you solve a nagging problem, you will feel this same exhilaration when awareness is developed out of noticing.
I invite you to choose one area of your life where you have a question (“it”): a problem to solve, a change you want to make or whatever keeps you up at night. Over the next two weeks notice the thoughts you have about “it”, the related learning in conversations you have about “it”, the feelings evoked by “it” and the subsequent awareness you develop about ‘it”. I look forward to hearing about your experience and to continuing the conversation.
Noticing and intention will be two of the common themes for this blog and I invite you to follow and join in on the conversation.
Written by Roxanne Bartel