Thanks for writing this. I do think it’s an interesting question to explore.
I’m not sure what to make of it though. When I was in college, and even at work, I found I could actually concentrate better with some background music or noise going on. Not just any sounds but something you might say was “known” or “familiar” or “expected”. Too quiet an environment was oddly a distraction for me.
That still holds for me but I do often find myself in a quiet setting. What I notice is that the quieter my environment is the louder my thoughts are—I hear my thinking rather than just think and do.
I’m not sure what I should make of that observation though.
I suspect, based on what happens when people start meditating, that your mind was flinching away from a lack of distraction that normally keeps the parts that are suffering occupied. I’m pretty sure this is why most people find it easier to concentrate while listening to music: they need to distract themselves enough from moment to moment suffering to get enough mental slack to get anything done.
Thanks for writing this. I do think it’s an interesting question to explore.
I’m not sure what to make of it though. When I was in college, and even at work, I found I could actually concentrate better with some background music or noise going on. Not just any sounds but something you might say was “known” or “familiar” or “expected”. Too quiet an environment was oddly a distraction for me.
That still holds for me but I do often find myself in a quiet setting. What I notice is that the quieter my environment is the louder my thoughts are—I hear my thinking rather than just think and do.
I’m not sure what I should make of that observation though.
I suspect, based on what happens when people start meditating, that your mind was flinching away from a lack of distraction that normally keeps the parts that are suffering occupied. I’m pretty sure this is why most people find it easier to concentrate while listening to music: they need to distract themselves enough from moment to moment suffering to get enough mental slack to get anything done.
A somewhat disturbing implication. But worth considering just what I am still doing some repression/avoidance about. Thanks for the comment.