Shepherd Your Attention

“Pay attention to what you notice. Pay attention to what works for you.”
These were some of the standout notes I jotted down during a songwriting seminar led by the legendary Brian Eno — a truly inspiring and thought-provoking experience. And the insights kept coming…

“Listen, look, learn.”

“Follow the things you really like.”
“What do you really really like?” (Jon Hassell).

“Take everything seriously!”

That first quote — “pay attention to what you notice” — brought to mind a passage from Estudio de diseño by my former design professor, Guillermo González Ruiz. He writes: “Simplicity requires a refinement of our attention to recognize what is sometimes obvious, to appreciate it, and not to dismiss it as trivial.” The seemingly obvious is often overlooked.

Ah! “Take breaks. Go out for a walk, for a bike ride, for a swim.”

“Boredom is so important.”

“Out with the Algorithm, In with the Analogue”