It currently seems to me like everything which is suffering fits this pattern, though I’m not sure if all the things which fit this pattern are suffering.
If I’m working on a complex problem or playing a difficult game, my attention may be drawn to several things at a time, but this doesn’t cause suffering. I’m uncertain of whether this is because my attention-allocation systems are sufficiently well coordinated to “take turns” in that situation, or because a certain component of emotional urgency is lacking. I’m guessing the latter, because Buddhist-style detachment (one of the non-content-focused methods mentioned) seems to be very useful in avoiding suffering. On the other hand, multitasking for longer periods does make me feel worse.
Are you saying this is one potential source of suffering, or are you defining suffering as those things which fit this pattern?
It currently seems to me like everything which is suffering fits this pattern, though I’m not sure if all the things which fit this pattern are suffering.
If I’m working on a complex problem or playing a difficult game, my attention may be drawn to several things at a time, but this doesn’t cause suffering. I’m uncertain of whether this is because my attention-allocation systems are sufficiently well coordinated to “take turns” in that situation, or because a certain component of emotional urgency is lacking. I’m guessing the latter, because Buddhist-style detachment (one of the non-content-focused methods mentioned) seems to be very useful in avoiding suffering. On the other hand, multitasking for longer periods does make me feel worse.