“Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality.” ~ Susan Sontag
We live in a fearful world where every moment seems to demand our attention for one purpose or another—work, endless news and notifications, the pressures to achieve. In the midst of this anxiety-inducing whirlwind, which often fuels frustration and anger, Sontag’s words remind us of something fundamental: attention is not just a temporary state of consciousness but a source of life itself. It is vitality. When we are truly present, we are able to experience life in its richness, unfiltered by fear or the pressure to achieve.
But how often do we actually allow ourselves to pay attention fully with a patient, desireless awareness?
Have you ever approached a situation with genuine openness—resisting the pull to define, control, or project an outcome? It’s a state of being that most people, save for children or perhaps the rare creative mind or meditator, hardly experience anymore. And yet, this open, selfless attentiveness can foster vitality, insight, and, in today’s increasingly chaotic world, a deep sense of calm and assurance.
I remember when this truly hit home for me during my freshman year at university. I walked into my very first figure painting class, convinced I had it all under control. After all, I had spent years honing my skills, studying anatomy, and mastering technique. With a certain swagger, I approached the live model, ready to dive in and demonstrate my artistic prowess.
However, within moments, my certainty crumbled. Standing before the model, brush in hand, I realized something wasn't working. My lines felt mechanical, and the colors—well, the model’s skin was beginning to resemble the light peach of a Crayola crayon. It was flat, lifeless. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to capture the essence of what was in front of me. Frustration set in.
That’s when my professor stepped in. She stood beside me, observing in silence for a moment, then said, “Stop. Just look—really look at her back.” I remember feeling a bit defensive, but I did as she asked.
Then she said something that changed everything: “Trust me. Be quiet and look.”
I don’t know how long I stood there staring at the model’s back, but something began to shift. As I settled into silence, letting go of the need to “figure it out” and “get it right,” I began to see things I hadn’t before. What had once seemed like a block of lifeless, peachy skin exploded into vibrant hues—reds, blues, yellows, and hints of purple and green. The longer I looked, the more color and depth emerged. It was as if I had been trying to paint from memory, from some internal template of what a human body “should” look like, rather than from what was truly in front of me.
This experience illustrates the stark contrast between genuine attention and a mind clouded by preconceptions. When we’re distracted or overwhelmed by assumptions, our perceptions become distorted—sometimes to the point of paranoia. Where attention opens us up to the richness of reality, paranoia narrows our focus, trapping us in a distorted, fearful view of the world.
It’s fascinating to note that the word “paranoia” literally means “distracted mind” in Greek. This etymology perfectly captures the essence of what paranoia does to our perception and attention. In a state of paranoia, our mind is indeed distracted—not by external stimuli, but by our own fears, suspicions, and anxieties. This internal distraction prevents us from truly engaging with the world around us, much like my initial attempts to paint were distracted by my preconceptions and anxiety about “getting it right.”
In today’s world, with its constant stream of misinformation and disinformation, it’s easy to slip into a paranoid mindset. We might find ourselves constantly on guard, looking for hidden threats or ulterior motives in every interaction. This hypervigilant state of being is exhausting and, ironically, makes us less aware of what’s actually happening around us. Our minds are distracted by our own narratives, unable to pay true attention to the richness of reality.
Attention, on the other hand, is about being fully present and open to the moment. It’s about seeing the world as it is, not as we fear it might be. When we pay attention in this way, we’re not just passively observing; we’re actively engaging with life in all its complexity and vibrancy. We move from a “distracted mind” to a focused, present one.
That moment in my painting class has stayed with me ever since, shaping not only how I approach art but also life. It was a lesson in the power of presence—how vital it is to be open to the moment, without the need to control it, label it, or rush through it. There is something profoundly life-giving in this kind of attention because it connects us directly to the essence of the experience—whether it’s a figure on a canvas, a conversation with a stranger, or something that initially seems ordinary but gradually reveals itself to be truly astonishing.
So, the next time you find yourself in any situation—whether you’re making a major life decision or simply taking a walk in the park—try letting go of any expectations and focus on simply paying attention. Not with the intent to solve, achieve, or control, but to fully experience the present moment. In doing so, you won’t just witness life—you’ll engage with it fully, embodying the vitality that Sontag describes so well. Ultimately, it’s about more than just observing; paying attention is the key to truly living, and in that act lies the essence of life itself.
Stay passionate!
Attention is indeed a more fundamental capability of the mind than reasoning and imagination. Newness walks in through the door of attention, vitalising us. The formless takes form, initially through attention. Monkey brain profits nothing. Letting go of thinking mind and its various suggestions and reasonings appears so life-threatening. Yet, when we make space for attentive mind, it is life-giving.
Well you gave me a prompt today and this came out. I'd like to chat more personally, but here are thoughts that may be of interest.
Attention is a moral act…. words of Iain McGilchrist
The Matter With Things Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World
To be open, to allow, to be aware to what is not expected, not known, or even wanted. Is this even possible as humans? To look, really observe reality as it unfolds, not as we remember it, but as it presents moment to moment is a challenge.
Choosing how one gives attention does seem to stem from what is valued by us. What draws us, what wants our attention, some would say? But that plays out more like lures of attraction, distraction even. But when I sit in my garden of aliveness, plants as well as with people, there is a deeper way of attending that generates aliveness, excitement even and delight. I’m surprised again and again with the relations of relations I get to be part of. The diversity keeps unfolding before me more and more, richer and deeper connections occur within me. Certainty it not part of this kind of attending. Manipulating as in grabbing or fixing in place the observations once and for all, seems to kill the aliveness.
I remember living in NYC and observing that an event would happen. Someone would take a picture, someone would write about it, and those experiencing it would become famous for a moment. The moments of attention were fleeting, but some would take on a life-time of attention as in starting careers, starting relationships, changing the course of history. I loved living in NYC it was like a giant kaleidoscope constantly changing before my eyes moment by moment as I walked the streets with millions of others. When walking there you don’t look at each individual passing you by, that would be impossible, so you find a way to move along with the moving crowds and you can feel like you’re a part of a moving river, not standing out from the rest, but one with it, as all the parts were moving as ensemble. At first there’s a kind of self-consciousness, whose looking at you? Then you realize no one is looking at you and it frees you to simply be however you wish, acting freely giving your attention moment by moment. And folks living in NYC are there, either by default, as in born into situation there, or you came there to realize your dreams. People come to find themselves, realize what they want to give attention. And history is made on those giving their attention just in time as needed to what they value, what gives them delight and what fulfills and advances life. Notice to what and how your attention is used; given or chosen?
Skye Hirst 9/23/24 1st day of Fall