Attentiveness

Definition of Attentiveness: The ability to focus or concentrate one’s mental effort on a specific task or stimulus.

My son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.

Proverbs 4: 20-21

True attention isn’t just a matter of the mind, it’s a matter of the heart. It can be as simple as noticing when our children are getting bored and taking steps to engage them. It means being fully present and genuinely interested, asking open-ended questions that elicit more than just a yes or no answer. 

Attention can also manifest in more adventurous ways, such as climbing a mountain and fully immersing ourselves in the experience. We pay attention to our surroundings, taking in the sights, sounds, and sensations around us. And when we reach the summit, we pause to replenish our bodies while reveling in the awe-inspiring views before us. In these moments of heightened awareness, we connect more deeply with ourselves, others, and the world around us.”

Paying attention leads to understanding

Ali Edwards

Hiking can be a great experience in and of itself, but there’s a fundamental difference between hiking for experience and hiking for inspiration. When we hike for inspiration, we become more attuned to our surroundings, and our experience becomes richer and more fulfilling. We ask deeper, more meaningful questions about life, work, and our relationship with God, and the answers we find have the power to transform us.

There’s something about being outside that helps us become more attentive, more curious, more childlike. Perhaps it’s the sense of wonder that comes from exploring the natural world, or the fact that we’re disconnected from the constant stimulation of our phones and other devices. Maybe it’s the discomfort of not having the comforts of home, like a hot shower or other conveniences, that forces us to be more present in the moment. Whatever the reason, being in nature has a way of inspiring us to be more fully engaged with the world around us.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 2:1

Attention plays a critical role in various aspects of our lives, such as school, work, and relationships. With the demands of these areas, it’s natural to feel exhausted at times. However, by focusing our outlook and attention on heavenly matters, we can find peace and happiness amidst the chaos. On the other hand, worldly attention can leave us feeling drained and unfulfilled. By directing our attention to Christ and his teachings, we can experience a sense of inner peace and fulfillment, leading to a new and more gratifying outlook on life.

God desires our undivided attention, and often, when we feel stressed or overwhelmed, it’s because we haven’t taken the time to stop and be fully present in the moment. By focusing on what is happening right now, we can cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and connect more fully with God’s presence in our lives. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and lose sight of what’s truly important. But by making a conscious effort to pause and turn our attention to God, we can find a sense of peace and calm that helps us navigate even the most challenging circumstances.

We all have need to be trained to see, and to have our eyes opened before we can take in the joy that is meant for us in the beautiful life.

Charlotte Mason

A Challenge

Start being more attentive by taking on the week with purposeful attentiveness. Dedicate some time each day to focus on the present moment. Rather than simply going through the motions, pause what you’re doing and truly immerse yourself in the experience. Paying attention can open ourselves up to a lost world of awe and inspiration.

Here are ways as a family we try re centering our focus and pay more attention:

1. Go Outside
   • Go for a hike and really take it all in
   • Tis the season for Spring Cleaning/yard work.. notice the plants, hear and feel the breeze, smell the cut grass, listen to the kids play or dogs bark or crickets chirp, use your senses!
2. Yoga/working out
   • Paying attention to what your body is able to do can teach us and motivate us to do more.
3. Meditation/Pray
   • Praying doesn’t have to be just “God help me!”, althought it is a perfect reason to pray.
   • Pray and focus on what we want to give thanks for. Praise our wonderful Maker!
4. Talk to loved ones (kids, spouse, friends)
   • Focus on them. Hear them. Give them value.
   • This is a perfect opportunity to teach others about how amazing our world and Creator is too.
5. Listen to music
   • I prefer something that calms my soul, something that allows my senses to all join together and be one.
6. Focus on your breathing.