Inner Focus vs. Outer Focus

I was reading through Entertainment Weekly today, which had a feature story on Heroes in it and a supplement listing the top 25 science fiction films and series of the past few decades.  Another article discussed Michael Chabon and his latest book, which appears to be an off-beat piece of fiction that takes place in a slightly alternate reality.

 I then stopped to think.  I love reading off-beat books, watching off-beat movies, tv shows, etc.  I have since I was a little kid.  And all of these things are slightly cerebral; they require one to think inwardly or speculate or consider big ideas.

And I thought — maybe this is linked to those of us who are trying to become a little bit more socially sophisticated.  Maybe we were so inwardly focused as kids (and, later, as adults) that we neglected to be outwardly focused.

I find that my inner game weakness is that I think to much about myself during interactions and not about the other person.  That, instead of listening to the other person, I’m listening to my inner chatter.

In improv, when one gets stuck in a scene, one should focus on one’s partner.

This seems like it would be true for any social situation.

And maybe every conversation doesn’t have to be cerebral.  Maybe it can just be about the environment, the situation, etc. and not about saving the world.

Just my thoughts after reading Entertainment Weekly.

Take care.

~ by socialrobot on May 5, 2007.