How does awareness emerge from within?
Metacognition is monitoring and control of cognitive processes. This is done with mental capacity. Often in retrospect, sometimes in anticipation of the future, seldom in the present.
We can actively start metacognition in the present. It is as if you record your stream of consciousness. This is what we do as a very first exercise in meditation. It can be very powerful. We see thoughts emerge, from nothing. We recognize that looking at our thoughts is a difficult thing. Thoughts connect to other thoughts and reasoning, and these processes compete and take over from the observing process. Then this observing process simply dies. Suddenly we get aware that we are not monitoring anymore, we can observe again.
That sudden moment of awareness is different. It is not a thought. It is a director, a re-director, an interrupt from a different place. (Probably somewhere in the brain, but not from the reasoning center.) That interrupt is awareness.
The monitoring is metacognition.
When we replay what has happened yesterday when we had a fight with X, we are doing metacognition. When we rehearse an interview we will do tomorrow, this is metacognition.
When during the next fight we suddenly ‘see’ what is going on, that is awareness.
Awareness has the power to interrupt all mental processes and redirect.
When you are really in the music, you are listening to, this is called being in the flow. If you are working with passion, really doing what you do without opinion on it, you are in the flow. Awareness can go further. You suddenly see that you are in the flow, and it makes your heart light up.
Metacognition is something you can start doing. Awareness just comes. It might always be there, but we nearly never listen to it.
who is bert 
Reblogged this on blogalexg.
Great definitions and distinctions. Isn’t being in the flow an altered state of consciousness (ASC)usually associated with creativity and ASCs are associated with alpha brain waves which if I remember correctly are 8-12 cycles per second. The magnetic rhythms of the earth are at 10 cycles per second. So flow, creativity and I would say meditation (and other states) put you in synchrony with the rhythms of the earth and therefore might explain the feeling (if I can mention that here) of oneness with creation that arises in ASCs and the joy of oneness.
I don’t think that being in the flow is an altered state of consciousness. Even when I’m assembling IKEA furniture I’m often there. To me it means concentration and focus on my task alone. But I’m using my brain as usual, be it without the interruptions and circles of mental activity going on in the background. Something that often happens during a conversation, and most often when I have nothing to do.
Bill said that sportsmen can be in the zone. This looks like a deeper level of the flow.
Deep meditative states might or might not give rise to completely different brain activity. That this brain activity is then related to ASC, I don’t know.
I don’t know exactly what state of consciousness is involved in flow either. Zone is more intense flow so maybe that is an ASC. Have forgotten much of what I knew at one time.
I was deeply interested in the ASC train in 2003. I remember reading Stan Grof and Tart about it.
Yes, I was into this in the 70s– not due to drugs– just an Aspie preoccupation. Charles Tart, Arthur Deikman, Robert Ornstein, Stanislov Grof and a few others. That is what I wanted to write about but had no psych degree so no authority. Still an interest but rusty on my premises.
We seem to share a lot of perspectives … 🙂
Yes, funny…. 🙂
Whatever word works ……
Best
Yeah, it probably does not matter at all … 🙂
Interesting distinctions and labels, Bert. Thanks!
Good to see you again. And thank you for commenting 🙂
this is often used in sports to improve performance.
I don’t know much about sports, but I’m sure you can only win when being in the flow …
the best athletes visualize perfect performance while they are still, it helps train muscle memory.
A couple times in martial arts and playing rugby, I was able to see myself outside my body executing moves as it was happening – and it was a huge success.
I understand the best call it being in “the zone” and can get there often.
That must indeed be the Silence of awareness …
Good explanation of a rough and difficult process to understand.
Scott
thank you, Scott