1+1=
The art of noticing
The 16th century Oxford English Dictionary definition of mindfulness is “The quality or state of being conscious or aware of something; attention.” However, in the nearly 500 years since John Palsgrave coined the term, it seems as if it has only increased in ambiguity.
I previously viewed mindfulness as something people strived to achieve through actions such as meditation, yoga, or deep rest. Frankly, I associated mindfulness with a somewhat alternative and wonky practice. Isn’t it just being present? How do I even know if I’m doing it correctly?
Since mindfulness is intangible and cannot be directly measured, I have struggled to put it into practice. Dr. Ellen Langer, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Harvard University, is a foremost expert on mindfuless and has helped me compartmentalize what it truly means to be mindful.
Throughout forty years of research, Dr. Langer, in my opinion, has developed a more palatable and impactful view of mindfulness.
“It is the simple process of noticing,” she noted in a February episode of the Huberman Lab Podcast.
“Recognize that everything is always changing, everything looks different from different perspectives, and uncertainty is the rule, not the exception. When you know you don't know, then you naturally tune in.”
Dr. Langer encapsulates this view through a familiar example.
The takeaway is not that you can be a smartass when asked a question like what is 1+1. It is that context and perspectives shape the way we view the world.
If someone said 1+1 equals 1, I assume your inclination would be to either quickly point out that it is incorrect or dismiss them entirely, for we do not owe our time to people who can’t do basic arithmetic.
Instead of these immediate feelings of judgment, shift your perspective. 1+1 is 1? Why do you say that? How did you get there?
As Henry David Thoreau put it, “The universe is wider than our views of it.”
We live in a society that inordinately values the “right” answer.
This is how we are raised: at home, in school, there are right answers and wrong answers. This stymies critical thinking. It puts us in a box, as the consequence of providing the “wrong” answer or making the “wrong” choice is a bad grade or a timeout.
As noted in my "Life and Death" essay, the concepts of right and wrong are necessary for a child to find their place in the world. However, because these systems are ingrained in us from such a young age, many struggle to think for themselves as they grow up.
We are taught as if the world is constant and will remain that way; that the answer today will be the same as tomorrow; that most questions have one viable answer.
Not only must we discard these notions ourselves, but we must instill in younger generations the importance of questioning the status quo, challenging established frameworks, and thinking critically.
The social media society has shifted into one where the loudest voice or the strongest opinion prevails. Curiosity is no longer valued. People no longer participate in active noticing.
Let us return to a society that values good-faith dialogue, encourages people to ask questions, and appreciates those who are perceptive.
The more mindful we are, that is, the more we sit back and notice, the healthier our relationship will be with both ourselves and with others.
“When you're mindful, you don't owe; you actively notice. As you're noticing, the neurons are firing, and fifty years of research has shown that it is literally and figuratively enliving.”
“Expertise is how much you know. Wisdom is knowing how much you have to learn.” - Adam Grant
