Learn How to Pay Attention to Your Attention (Amishi Jha)

The Michael Shermer Show # 232

Research shows we are missing 50 percent of our lives because we aren’t paying attention. Many of us often feel mentally foggy, scattered, and overwhelmed. Why is it that no matter how hard you try, you seem to find yourself somewhere else — if you’re even aware you’ve drifted off to that place.

In this conversation with the acclaimed neuroscientist Amishi Jha, she recounts what her neuroscience research revealed, and shows why whether you’re simply browsing, talking to friends, or trying to stay focused in an important meeting, you can’t seem to manage to hang on to your attention.

Shermer and Jha discuss: the neuroscience of attention; what attention evolved to do; how stress, attention bias, negativity bias, thought flooding, and active listening affect attention; multitasking; the “flashlight” metaphor; mindfulness and well-being, and more…

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[michaelmccay]

Shermer quietly putting out the most consistent interesting content. These videos deserve 100x as many views as they have.

[Wingedmagician]

One of my favorite episodes in all of podcast land thank you so much

[nikolaosdimitriadis]

One of your best episodes Michael! Thank you both so much!

[peterdollins]

My mother could read & listn to the radio & prove she was taking in & understanding both. She passed when i was under 3.

[snoo]

great interview. thank you. i will watch it in segments. lots of info to unpack.

[arttart]

I really enjoyed this guest, topic and conversation. I think many people will find this topic useful and fascinating. Great content!

[craigwillms]

So, when a dog grabs the ball and cajoles you to play fetch is the dog not thinking in future mode? Or a squirrel burying nuts for the winter is he not thinking in a future mode? There are any number of animals that prepare for the future - and remember the past (a squirrel must find the buried nuts).

[KrwiomoczBogurodzicy]

02:10 - Intro, the book title, bio

03:04 - TED Talk

- Exercises
05:59 - Welcome

[markwilliams]

My mind is going so many places while listening to her! I'm experiencing sequential lapses in focus Lol. Ruminentry Watson

[BeammeupSpotty]

thanks. i've been struggling with this and wondering how to make it better and now I have a way to work on it.

[PsychicsRfake]

when she talks about having a goal before you go online, I found helps one from going down the YT rabbit hole.

[landriver]

I noticed Michael getting distracted a few times 😁

[carvakasatyasrutah]

In India the (Brahminical) name identifies the owner of it as from the state of Bihar. It’s pronounced as Jha (j as in jump) and not Yah. Though to be fair I don’t know what pronunciation she goes with.

[williamrunner]

MK Ultra was a pretty cool government study.

[garycleave]

Who is the I in me
The watcher within
The one aware when
My mind wonders
Here, there and everywhere
Who with gentle breath and tender touch
Stills my mind and guides me back to now
Call the I what you will
The East's suffering self
Or the West's sentient soul
Either way
Does being mindful really have the power
As some say
To make us whole
If we learn to pay attention
And intentionally inhabit each moment of the day
Instead of letting our minds stray
And wander away

[BB-jehm]

NOTHING NEW- J KRISHNAMURTI- THE OBSERVED IS THE OBSERVER...