#200 Narrative vs Experiential Attention

     We normally observe things by means of "narrative attention". We see something briefly, or hear the first few words of a sentence or maybe the first sentence, or read the first line or two of a paragraph, and then we're off into an elaborate story triggered by the tiny bit of real information. Reality mostly passes us by, because we're addicted to our own spin on things. "Please don't confuse me with facts!" Even physicians commonly stop patients well before they can recount their complete history, jump to conclusions based on inadequate data ("premature closure"), resulting in diagnostic errors. We're so used to being in this perpetual trance, that we're not consciously aware of an alternative to profound mindlessness.
     Mindfulness training helps us to gradually shift over to "experiential attention". When we're sitting in a tub full of nice warm water, and our attention is continuously with the physical reality of the warm water; when we hold a beloved little baby, toddler or puppy; when we do vigorous / dangerous activities like karate or rock climbing, THEN we tend to be completely present mind-heart-body, fully engaged with our immediate environment, no story being spun, time seems to stop, - we're real, fully here. It's a clear, needed break from narrative trance. 
      Clearly our ancestors could only have survived if they had the capacity for long periods of continuous experiential attention. How else could they sit motionless for hours, then pounce on an unsuspecting bird or animal? How else could they have avoided being themselves ambushed? Reality changes moment-by-moment - we can't freeze it with a story. Our stories keep hijacking us out of reality and freezing us in innumerable coma-like trances.
     So we all have a natural capacity for mindfulness, which though currently atrophied, we can cultivate to remarkable levels with mindfulness practices. 

     "Mindfulness lets experience be the teacher."           Jack Kornfield

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