Noticing the details in life is eminently satisfying, yet surprisingly hard to do. Bird migration patterns, the moon phase, the details of a rearranged room all go unnoticed by most of us because our attention is fragmented.

When the pandemic hit the pause button on life, many of us realized just how much we were missing everyday. Our attention is fragmented by a phone, a to-do list, our choices. Rob Walker, author of the book The Art of Noticing: 131 Ways to Spark Creativity, Find Inspiration, and Discover Joy in the Everyday, has a different plan for us. His book and his course on Sam Harris’ Waking Up app prompt us to pay attention in new ways that open our eyes to the world around us.

In our conversation, Rob shares how noticing is different from mindfulness, what happens to our creativity when we learn to tune in, and how the way we direct our attention shapes who we are.

Show notes and resources: https://www.reconsidering.org/p/episode-45-the-art-of-noticing-with