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

Brains and thinking!

[patsmor.livejournal.com]

Me, too. Especially when I'm talking to my pshrink, and the part of me that's been in therapy for 25 years is looking at how the interaction is working. Or when I'm in a working meeting (as opposed to a "let's sit around and let people read the reports they sent out yesterday" meeting, blarg) and I am participating as a member as well as watching the interpersonal relationships.

When I need to really be in the experience instead of having my attention split, I sometimes envision turning off a radio in the background, or shutting a door. Or sometimes I take a deep breath and let the mental images of whatever I'm feeling or doing (say, at the pshrink) fill my head.

I, too, didn't realize anyone else worked this way.

Re: Brains and thinking!

[cellio]

During the first summer session of the Sh'liach K'hilah program, they told us that with respect to the daily services we'd be attending (and taking turns leading), we were going to have to be both participants and observers and that they realized this would be challenging. I found myself thinking "it is? I do that all the time!". I can't attend a service and not notice how it's put together, points of technique, etc.

Thanks for the advice. I haven't tried to consiously shut down that other process, but it makes sense than an explicit act would be required.