thread clash

[cellio]

When praying (which usually means when at services), I've noticed that there's a background thread that runs in my brain. While the foreground task is reciting the words in the siddur, the background thread is analyzing the words (ok, only some of the words) based on what I've learned so far of grammar. Sometimes I notice something new (oh, that's how that verb is put together!). This is good; direct application aids learning.

But... is there a way to prevent that thread from grabbing focus? Its job, most of the time, is to note things to come back to later, but sometimes it distracts me when I ought not be distracted. Like, say, when I'm leading services. I don't want to surpress it; I just want it to behave.

(Please tell me that other people's brains work this way too? Pretty much any time I'm doing something vaguely "intellectual", there are at least two things going on in my brain, the main activity and the "meta" level that's noticing how I'm processing that main activity.)

Comments

[ironangel]

that is, in fact, how my brain works. except that I have ADHD, so there are likely 10-15 meta threads. :)

when I find thing slike this happening, I find that it helps to either "hear' my own voice in my head or move my lips silently as I speak the words. that brings the focus to the act of saying the words rather than letting them moce through my head in a stream.

does that make sense?

[cellio]

That makes sense, yes. Thanks!