How do you become less ignorant to your surroundings?
After the brunt of the pandemic had passed, I seem to be struggling to adapt and I'm at a loss as to how or what I'm supposed to learn.
How can I be more aware of my surroundings?
If you are always talking, you can’t really hear what other people are saying.

Similarly, if you are always thinking, you can never really see the world around you, because you’re so involved in the world of thought.

The more you think, the more time you spend in the mental world as opposed to the real world.

The mental world is made of concepts, labels, and expectations.

After a while, we stop seeing the real world and we only see the concepts, labels and expectations.

We begin to mistake money for wealth, and labels for things and people.

If you were on a deserted island, having a billion dollars would be totally useless.

What you would really need is some food, shelter and companionship - aka true wealth.

So to truly become more aware of your surroundings, you need to drop all the concepts, labels and expectations.

Learn to see things with a newfound curiosity.

Here’s something I do at home most days. There’s a particular wooden cupboard door in our kitchen. Each evening when I am cooking dinner, I touch that wooden door.

And each time, I experience it a little bit differently.

Sure, there are many familiar aspects of it that I recognize, but every time there are subtle nuances that I had forgotten, that I hadn’t noticed before, or that I have never experienced quite the same way.

Of course, it is not the door that changes, but rather my experience that changes from moment to moment.

Our consciousness is always shifting, and as a result, we have different experiences of the same things.

Sometimes those differences are nuanced and minor.

Other times they are drastic.

And if you can become curious of how a static thing like a door feels, imagine how curious and fascinated you can become by more dynamic and complicated things?

So forget all you know and see the world like a beginner each day.

Pretend you are an alien that just arrived on this planet and the apple you are eating is the first apple you’ve ever tasted.

The key to all this is to have fun.

If you don’t have fun, you’ll just retreat right back into your mental world of static concepts, labels, and expectations.

The mental world is the dead world, while this world, the real one, is alive.

Question

How do you become less ignorant to your surroundings? 
After the brunt of the pandemic had passed, I seem to be struggling to adapt and I'm at a loss as to how or what I'm supposed to learn.
How can I be more aware of my surroundings?
If you are always talking, you can’t really hear what other people are saying.

Similarly, if you are always thinking, you can never really see the world around you, because you’re so involved in the world of thought.

The more you think, the more time you spend in the mental world as opposed to the real world.

The mental world is made of concepts, labels, and expectations.

After a while, we stop seeing the real world and we only see the concepts, labels and expectations.

We begin to mistake money for wealth, and labels for things and people.

If you were on a deserted island, having a billion dollars would be totally useless.

What you would really need is some food, shelter and companionship - aka true wealth.

So to truly become more aware of your surroundings, you need to drop all the concepts, labels and expectations.

Learn to see things with a newfound curiosity.

Here’s something I do at home most days. There’s a particular wooden cupboard door in our kitchen. Each evening when I am cooking dinner, I touch that wooden door.

And each time, I experience it a little bit differently.

Sure, there are many familiar aspects of it that I recognize, but every time there are subtle nuances that I had forgotten, that I hadn’t noticed before, or that I have never experienced quite the same way.

Of course, it is not the door that changes, but rather my experience that changes from moment to moment.

Our consciousness is always shifting, and as a result, we have different experiences of the same things.

Sometimes those differences are nuanced and minor.

Other times they are drastic.

And if you can become curious of how a static thing like a door feels, imagine how curious and fascinated you can become by more dynamic and complicated things?

So forget all you know and see the world like a beginner each day.

Pretend you are an alien that just arrived on this planet and the apple you are eating is the first apple you’ve ever tasted.

The key to all this is to have fun.

If you don’t have fun, you’ll just retreat right back into your mental world of static concepts, labels, and expectations.

The mental world is the dead world, while this world, the real one, is alive.

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

In order to become less ignorant to your surroundings, one must first acknowledge the limitations of their own thinking and mental constructs. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that our thoughts and beliefs are the ultimate truth, but in reality, they are just interpretations of the world around us.

To truly see the world as it is, one must let go of preconceived notions, labels, and expectations. It is only when we strip away these layers of conceptual thinking that we can begin to see the true essence of things.

One way to practice this is to approach the world with a sense of curiosity and wonder, much like a child discovering the world for the first time. By letting go of our assumptions and expectations, we open ourselves up to new experiences and perspectives.

Similarly, it is important to embrace the ever-changing nature of our consciousness. Each moment presents a new opportunity to see the world from a different angle, to experience things in a fresh light. By staying present and attentive to the nuances of our surroundings, we can deepen our understanding of the world and our place within it.

Ultimately, the key to becoming less ignorant to our surroundings is to approach life with a sense of openness, curiosity, and playfulness. By letting go of our attachment to fixed ideas and embracing the dynamic nature of existence, we can truly awaken to the richness and complexity of the world around us.

In conclusion, becoming less ignorant to our surroundings requires a willingness to let go of our mental constructs and embrace the ever-changing nature of existence. By approaching life with a sense of curiosity and wonder, we can deepen our understanding of the world and experience a profound sense of connection to the world around us. It is only through this openness and receptivity that we can truly awaken to the beauty and complexity of life.