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For most of us, when we hear the term "attention," What we think of is focus. What does that actually mean? It means that we're constraining and narrowing where our mental energy goes in this very precise way. I often use the metaphor of a flashlight to describe this capacity we all have. Just like an actual flashlight or torch, if we're in a darkened room, wherever it is that that flashlight is pointing, we're gonna get crisp, clear information. And the beam of that flashlight is narrow. It's prioritizing some information, and that's because there's a brain mechanism called 'bias,' that activates neurons representing what it is that you direct your attention toward. But, even if we often think of attention as focus, it ends up that attention is more than focus. There are other systems of attention.

Let's follow Amishi...

For most of us, / when we hear the term "attention," / what we think of / is focus. // What does that actually mean? // It means that we're constraining / and narrowing / where our mental energy goes / in this very precise way. // I often use the metaphor of a flashlight / to describe this / capacity we all have. // Just like an actual flashlight or torch, / if we're in a darkened room, / wherever it is / that that flashlight is pointing, / we're gonna get crisp, / clear information. // And the beam of that flashlight is narrow. // It's prioritizing some information, / and that's because there's a brain mechanism called 'bias,' / that activates neurons representing what it is that you direct your attention toward. // But, / even if we often think / of attention / as focus, / it ends up that attention / is more than focus. // There are other systems of attention. //

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Another aspect is almost the exact opposite of a flashlight. And I use the metaphor, here, of a floodlight. Unlike a flashlight, whose beam is strong and narrow and directed, a floodlight is broad, diffused, and you could say receptive. There's nothing that you're privileging over anything else. The floodlight is a brain system called the 'alerting system.' Being alert means noticing what's going on in this moment. But you know you need to pay attention this broad, diffused manner. The floodlight really describes that experience. And then finally, there's a third way that we can prioritize and pay attention that actually doesn't have to do with the content or the moment, it has to do with our goals. And this is something called 'Executive control.' I like to use the metaphor of a juggler for executive control. You can think of it this way: "Executives" like the executive of the company. The executive's job is not to do every single task that's required, but it's to hold the goals in mind, and ensure that actions of the company, of the individuals in the company, and goals are aligned. Same idea with this juggler notion- we're keeping all the balls in the air. We're managing and ensuring the coordination of the multiple, complex things that need to be happening.

Let's follow Amishi...

Another aspect / is almost the exact opposite / of a flashlight. // And I use the metaphor, here, of a floodlight. // Unlike a flashlight, whose beam is strong / and narrow / and directed, / a floodlight is broad, / diffused, / and you could say receptive. // There's nothing that you're privileging over anything else. // The floodlight / is a brain system called the 'alerting system.' // Being alert / means noticing what's going on / in this moment. // But you know you need to pay attention this broad, / diffused manner. // The floodlight really describes that experience. // And then finally, / there's a third way that we can prioritize and pay attention that actually doesn't have to do with the content / or the moment, / it has to do with our goals. // And this is something called 'Executive control.' // I like to use the metaphor of a juggler / for executive control. // You can think of it this way: / "Executives" / like the executive of the company. // The executive's job / is not to do every single task / that's required, / but it's to hold the goals in mind, / and ensure that actions / of the company, / of the individuals in the company, / and goals / are aligned. // Same idea with this juggler notion /- we're keeping all the balls in the air. / We're managing and ensuring / the coordination of the multiple, complex things / that need to be happening.