"Am I Noticing Right Now?"
After you've had the chance to work with Noticing for a while an interesting thing begins to happen, Noticing becomes almost effortless. All it takes to begin Noticing is the simple question: "Am I Noticing right now?"
The question itself is both transformative and transparent. It transforms you much like the question "Am I thinking of yellow?" transforms you. If you are asking that question then you are thinking of yellow. The same is true when you ask yourself if you are currently Noticing. Just asking initiates a process which stimulates your postural reflexes and releases excess tension.
The question "Am I Noticing right now?" is also transparent in the sense that you can observe any activity by looking through it. Noticing does not require very much attention. You don't have to focus on it in order for it to work. Once you start by doing it, it can become like peripheral vision. It's like looking through a picture frame. Looking at an object through a frame it is possible to be aware of the soft outline of the frame while still being able to see clearly the activity you are engaged in.
As long as you continue to see the frame's faint outline, you know that you are continuing to Notice and therefore are continuing to faciliate the balance of stillness and movement that charcterizes coordinated action. If that frame disappears you know that you have interfered with your body's natural ability to adapt to the changing conditions of movement and you are less coordinated.
The true value of Noticing is not only that it improves the quality of the way you are moving but also that it requires so little of your attention that you can do it while you do whatever else you like. It can exist way in the background but still give you accuratee feedback as to how you are doing.
The question itself is both transformative and transparent. It transforms you much like the question "Am I thinking of yellow?" transforms you. If you are asking that question then you are thinking of yellow. The same is true when you ask yourself if you are currently Noticing. Just asking initiates a process which stimulates your postural reflexes and releases excess tension.
The question "Am I Noticing right now?" is also transparent in the sense that you can observe any activity by looking through it. Noticing does not require very much attention. You don't have to focus on it in order for it to work. Once you start by doing it, it can become like peripheral vision. It's like looking through a picture frame. Looking at an object through a frame it is possible to be aware of the soft outline of the frame while still being able to see clearly the activity you are engaged in.
As long as you continue to see the frame's faint outline, you know that you are continuing to Notice and therefore are continuing to faciliate the balance of stillness and movement that charcterizes coordinated action. If that frame disappears you know that you have interfered with your body's natural ability to adapt to the changing conditions of movement and you are less coordinated.
The true value of Noticing is not only that it improves the quality of the way you are moving but also that it requires so little of your attention that you can do it while you do whatever else you like. It can exist way in the background but still give you accuratee feedback as to how you are doing.
posted by Mio Morales at 10/27/2006 04:19:00 AM
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