Observe

I’m feeling thoughtful right now…

I’ve been catching an important theme that’s pretty evident in many articles today about the importance of observation. I find this to be a skill that is so underutilized in our daily lives, yet vital to fully experiencing everything that life has to offer. How many of us take cursory glimpses at our surroundings and make decisions based on assumptions and gut instincts? While these traits can get you from point A to point b, is this really the most effective way of navigating? Perhaps if you’re living in the wilderness and need split-decision making skills, but it’s definitely not conducive to living well.

Each and every one of us can develop into unique, incredible human beings if we put our senses into it. I continually talk about my inspirations being tied into moments of experience through unencumbered observation. I use this key ability when researching and writing, because observation is one of the most basic skills that writers use. If we want to reach vast groups of people, then we need to know the right incentives that will move them. That means that we need to learn about them, collectively and individually. It’s no small feat!

But while observation is important, it must be done with all of the senses so that you don’t make judgment calls based upon preconceptions (or even misconceptions).

We have eyes, but how many of us actually see the entire picture? A scene is made up of more than visual details. It’s necessary to remove bias and use all of our senses to effect the best possible outcome for every situation. It’s a natural ability, but one that must be trained until it happens without thought.

For example, let’s take in something frightening like a robbery. This is an event that begs for fight or flight behavior. But what do you see when you observe the event from an external perspective, and not an emotional one?

• Perhaps you’ll see that an exit is unblocked, or that the robber is a novice and has an injury from busting into your space, or that the police have already been notified?
• Maybe you’ll remember that bit of self defensive training that you obtained, and think about how it will work in this situation?
• Is there anyone else there with you?
• How is the robber behaving?
• Do you know this person?
• Is the robber bigger or smaller than you?
• Are there lights going on around you outside of the house?
• What kind of defensive weapons do you have in reach, and what is the robber carrying?
• What can I do?

This is just the tip of the iceberg of questions that pertain to this event, and they can be answered pretty quickly using observation as your secret weapon. These are the types of questions that trained observers would ask themselves when encountering such a circumstance. These skills can be learned once you decide to become more observant. It’s not easy to do, because we like to react before we think. Again, fight or flight. Learning to observe can open you to unexpected opportunities and new ways of thinking. It might even make your day more interesting, because it’ll take your mind off those bombarding emotions that are forcing a reaction.

It will take a lot of patience and discipline which many find cumbersome. Let’s face it. We’re never going to be like Spock from Star Trek. Humans are a bundle of emotions, probably more emotional than any living thing on this planet. But we also have the ability to observe and learn so that we can get past our natural instincts, and behave in a way that can create a best case scenario for more than just ourselves. It’s all about perspective!

If you want to start to learn about observation, then start small and work your way up. Use this skill while you’re going to pick up your mail or while you’re driving. Actually see everything that’s around you and take note of it all. You don’t have to write it down. Just make mental sticky notes. Eventually, you’ll start to realize that your observation skills are becoming second nature once you let all of your senses freely take over. And you’ll be amazed at the details you’ve been missing.

If you’re still not convinced, then look at animals in their natural habitats. There’s a reason why some species have been around much longer then we humans. Observation.

Here are some articles to consider on the subject:

• Don’t Just See; Observe: What Sherlock Holmes Can Teach Us About Mindful Decisions at Big Think
• Dutch Designer Proposes Typeface to Help Dyslexics at DesignTAXI
• Coming Together to Fight For a Troubled Veteran at NY Times

p.s. I have to thank my new best friend, Twitter, because I am finding some serious creative inspirations. Thank you everyone for tweeting because I am swimming in info heaven!