A hungry mind fed by the discipline of noticing

Curious people tend to have better knowledge across subject areas than less curious people. Do curious people engage in just about the same things as less curious people but they pay better attention and thus, learn more? Sophie Von Stumm The Hungry Mind lab.

Discipline, stemming from the latin word ‘discere’-to learn.

Noticing or the discipline of paying better attention has an underpinning method which allows us to learn through paying attention.

The act of noticing means to pay attention to a phenomenon, situation or incident; to make a distinction around an event. What matters is that it is noticed; only when we notice are we able to give the circumstance our attention.

We should ‘mark’ the presence of what we notice in such a way that we have a clear record for an initial and crucially repeat reflections. We cannot analyse events until we can first be clear on what they consist of, as impartially as possible. Our first intention should be to give an account of an incident without explanation, justification or in emotive terms.

This gives us an ‘account of’ which can then be analysed through reflection as a ‘account for’. This account for should capture what you recognised about your reaction to what you noticed. It is the arena for you to offer an interpretation or an explanation for your reaction , a value judgement or criticism.

The discipline of noticing should produce 2 artefacts:
an account of what you noticed.
an account for what you noticed about what you noticed!

Over time you can review your original account for and revise it in light of the greater insight that you have gained into what lies behind your reactions. Thus noticing produces food for the hungry mind.

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By Matthew Payne

Working to make the most of the resources available to others to enable them to be more successful. Using facilitative leadership and process management to get things done, and really make a difference! Engaging with individuals and teams in both the public and private sectors.

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