The Double-Edged Sword of Automaticity
Practice being at the mercy of whatever demands your attention or deciding what deserves it now and then.
Have you ever watched the video of one of the world's best violinists being ignored by a thousand commuters?
In 2007, Joshua Bell collaborated with The Washington Post to see how many of Washington’s Metro passengers would realize a world-class musician was performing for them.
A lot fewer than they predicted. Of the 1,097 people who walked past the virtuoso busking in jeans and a baseball cap, only seven paused to listen more closely.
While the 18th-century Stradivarius he performed on was worth millions, he collected a total of $52.17 in its case, and $20 of that came from someone who recognized him.
Our brains conserve resources by streamlining the skills we’ve mastered so we can perform them without constant monitoring.
I appreciate not needing to think about driving, going to the bathroom, or walking a familiar path. However, paying a little more attention to what we’re doing sometimes equips us to notice more often intentionally.
It’s a mindful habit that makes daily life feel richer.
Familiarity blindness
Choose one or two common tasks you can do automatically. Try doing them off autopilot for a few weeks to see if they start to feel any different.
Perceptual breakdown
Break the tasks down into their sensory parts. Focus on some of the visual, auditory, and physical details as you do the task. As you unload the dishwasher, for example, notice the light shining on the plates, the glasses clinking together, and the weight of a handful of spoons.
Mundane curiosity
Instead of focusing only on what demands your attention, notice the sensory details of everyday activities that often go unnoticed, like drinking a cup of coffee, taking a shower, or petting your dog.
One day, you might be surprised to realize you're moved by a sound that no one else around you seems to hear.
Renaud Capuçon recreated the experiment in the Paris Metro. His take weaves in images of a captivated audience eagerly (and elegantly) gathering to pay top dollar to hear what had been met with complete indifference earlier in the day in a different context.