Observation
[This article is part of a series about how to craft an intentional life using ideas and tools from Constantin Stanislavski’s acting system for working on our inner motive forces. Previous article: Intellect]
The previous article was about intellect as one of Stanislavski’s inner motive forces that drive us to action. Here, I describe observation, one of the tools of intellect. It may seem strange to claim observation as one of Stanislavski’s tools and devote an article to it, as it’s a broad, well-understood concept; Stanislavski certainly can’t be credited for being the first to note its value. We naturally observe the world around us, and observation is a core method in psychology, the sciences, the arts, and in meditation practices like mindfulness.
Stanislavski found observation to be of primary importance in understanding ourselves and the world around us. He described its use extensively, and I have already shared some of his teachings in this series of articles. The practice of observation, and reflection on what is observed, gives us perspective on our lives and those of others. This perspective is crucial as we think about how to live well - creating our best lives, observing the results of our actions, reflecting on their success, and adjusting as needed creates a virtuous cycle of progress. Here is what Stanislavski has to say about the importance of observation:
“The more an actor has observed and known, the greater his experience, his accumulation of live impressions and memories, the more subtly will he think and feel, and the broader, more varied, and substantial will be the life of his imagination, the deeper his comprehension of facts and events, the clearer his perception of the inner and outer circumstances of the life in the play and in his Part.” (Constantin Stanislavski, Creating a Role)
Observation is a property of curiosity. Having a sense of curiosity helps us to develop an awareness about ourselves and the world around us, grounds us in reality and helps us to know ourselves. It is a tool to find your sense of truth about who you are, your circumstances, and where you want to be. One begins by observing the world around one and oneself in it, and reflecting on that observation.
There are two main ways in which Stanislavski promoted observation: observation as curiosity and openness to the world; and scientific observation as part of critical thinking about the world.
We gain a sense of what is possible even if not (yet) directly experienced. Just think of what you have learned from watching a friend, family member, or even someone on television make or do something and then copying them.
Observation and awareness of others is the beginning of empathy towards them. Empathy can't be reduced to a process. But we can learn to listen to people and observe their external signs of emotion, to help us understand their inner experience, how they are different from us and where they are similar.
Observation of our own bodies and responses to life is the beginning of knowing ourselves better. How does your body feel when different things are happening to you? What does happiness, contentment, sadness, anger or excitement feel like? Learn to listen to yourself to understand why you behave in certain ways and whether your actions are true or false to yourself. Observation of ourselves is also core to meditation and mindfulness practice.
To begin with, take a little flower, or a petal from it, or a spider web, or a design made by frost on the window pane. Try to express in words what it is in these things that gives pleasure. Such an effort causes you to observe the object more closely, more effectively, in order to appreciate it and define its qualities.
And do not shun the darker side of nature. Look for it in marshes, in the slime of the sea, amid plagues of insects and remember that hidden behind these phenomena there is beauty, just as in loveliness there is unloveliness. What is truly beautiful has nothing to fear from disfigurement. Indeed, disfigurement often emphasizes and sets off beauty in higher relief. Search out both beauty and its opposite, and define them, learn to know and to see them, Otherwise your conception of beauty will be incomplete, saccharine, prettified, sentimental.
Next turn to what the human race has produced in art, literature, music.
At the bottom of every process of obtaining creative material for our work is emotion. Feeling, however, does not replace an immense amount of work on the part of our intellects.” (Constantin Stanislavski, An Actor Prepares)
This beautiful, poetic quote from Stanislavski shows how we can begin to observe the world around us, and appreciate what it offers. Further exercises in open, mindful observation can be found in previous articles from this series. Most, if not all, of the exercises use observation. If you wish, revisit the exercises in observing your own emotions in Emotion; using your senses in Emotion Memory Part 1 and 2; or observing your own and others’ tempo rhythms in Tempo & Rhythm Part 1 and 2.
In the last two sentences of the quote, Stanislavski speaks of the work required by the intellect to work and live intentionally. Observation and other tools of Intellect, do require work. However, it is joyful work that delivers great benefits and enriches our lives and experience. Next, I discuss some of the work involved in making use of observation.
We all engage in rational observation in life. Observations from any of your senses can create a question which spurs the intellect to action. You may then want to find out more information, or experiment to test your theory about what is happening. Your observation of your investigations will answer your question or spur further enquiry. For example, you may notice that crowds are gathering around a particular shop and wonder why. Wandering over to see what is happening is an investigation, which will answer your question quite easily. A more complex investigation is required if, for example, you notice that your tomato plants are happier in one spot in your garden than another. You may have to experiment with soil, water, sunlight, and other options to understand whether the reason was the quality of soil, the amount of water or light, or the insect life in the area.
The scientific method is more formal and precise than the examples above, but they have the same base of observation, questions, taking steps to investigate the questions, and observation of the results to come to an answer. One important thing that we can learn from scientific, rational observation, is a warning about our biases, specifically confirmation bias.
As I mentioned in Intellect, inputs to our thoughts are coloured by our emotions. Our perception is a subjective process: we cannot process all sensory data, so our brains fill in the gaps based on our previous experiences and internal models of how the world works. Therefore, our observations are biased towards what we expect or want to see. This is confirmation bias. This bias is unavoidable, but it helps to be aware of it. We can also work on improving the accuracy of our observations, and be prepared to question the truth of the conclusions we draw from observation.
“If I ask you a perfectly simple question now, ‘Is it cold out today?’ before you answer, even with a ‘yes’, or ‘it’s not cold’, or ‘I didn’t notice’, you should, in your imagination, go back on to the street and remember how you walked or rode. You should test your sensations by remembering how the people you met were wrapped up, how they turned up their collars, how the snow crunched underfoot, and only then can you answer my question. If you adhere strictly to this rule in all your exercises, no matter to what part of our programme they belong, you will find your imagination developing and growing in power.” (Ibid)
As Stanislavski shows, when answering or thinking of simple questions about the weather, people you met, meetings or other events you attended, take a few moments to return to those moments and try to remember your sensations vividly, before answering the question:
“When you have gone to bed at night, and put out your light, train yourself to go over your whole day, and try to put in every possible concrete detail. If you are recalling a meal, don’t just remember the food, but visualize the dishes on which it was served, and their general arrangement. Bring back all the thoughts and inner emotions which were touched by your conversation at the meal. At other times refresh your earlier memories. Make an effort to review in detail the apartments, rooms, and various places where you have happened to take a walk, or drunk tea, and visualize individual objects connected with these activities. Try also to recall, as vividly as possible, your friends and also strangers, and even others who have passed away. That is the only way to develop a strong, sharp, solid power of inner and outer attention. To accomplish this requires prolonged and systematic work.” (Ibid)
This exercise is similar to the above, but more systematic. As you go to bed at night, think through your day in as much detail as possible. If it feels too time consuming to think through the whole day in detail, choose one or two events to spend your attention on.
As you practise these exercises, you will find yourself noticing more details, more vividly, in your day-to-day life. You will become more present in your world.
As we improve our powers of observation in life, we become more present, involved and invested in it. In this way, observation is a spur to action through being present in the world and paying attention to it. We observe with an idea of future action in mind, guiding us. As we interact with something or someone we learn more and gain more detailed feedback, which we use to enrich future interactions. These interactions are key to an intentional life.
Dedicated observation is core to disciplined concentration of attention and vivid, active imagination, both of which are tools of the Intellect. Next, I discuss Concentration of Attention, which is about focusing and sustaining our observation, so we pay attention when and where it is needed.
The previous article was about intellect as one of Stanislavski’s inner motive forces that drive us to action. Here, I describe observation, one of the tools of intellect. It may seem strange to claim observation as one of Stanislavski’s tools and devote an article to it, as it’s a broad, well-understood concept; Stanislavski certainly can’t be credited for being the first to note its value. We naturally observe the world around us, and observation is a core method in psychology, the sciences, the arts, and in meditation practices like mindfulness.
Stanislavski found observation to be of primary importance in understanding ourselves and the world around us. He described its use extensively, and I have already shared some of his teachings in this series of articles. The practice of observation, and reflection on what is observed, gives us perspective on our lives and those of others. This perspective is crucial as we think about how to live well - creating our best lives, observing the results of our actions, reflecting on their success, and adjusting as needed creates a virtuous cycle of progress. Here is what Stanislavski has to say about the importance of observation:
“The more an actor has observed and known, the greater his experience, his accumulation of live impressions and memories, the more subtly will he think and feel, and the broader, more varied, and substantial will be the life of his imagination, the deeper his comprehension of facts and events, the clearer his perception of the inner and outer circumstances of the life in the play and in his Part.” (Constantin Stanislavski, Creating a Role)
Practising observation
In its simplest form, observation is the act of noticing something. Add a little effort and it becomes watching something with attention. But, while observation is primarily associated with the sense of sight, it also uses the other senses: listening attentively and smelling deeply are both acts of observation. It does carry with it a sense of detachment, so touch and taste seem less apt. However, noticing a result of touching or tasting is an observation, if one spends some thought and attention on it.Observation is a property of curiosity. Having a sense of curiosity helps us to develop an awareness about ourselves and the world around us, grounds us in reality and helps us to know ourselves. It is a tool to find your sense of truth about who you are, your circumstances, and where you want to be. One begins by observing the world around one and oneself in it, and reflecting on that observation.
There are two main ways in which Stanislavski promoted observation: observation as curiosity and openness to the world; and scientific observation as part of critical thinking about the world.
Observation as curiosity and openness
Observation in life should begin with curiosity. Combine observation with stimulation of the senses and you easily create or recall sense and emotion memories. We learn so much about living from openhearted observation. We are more intimately involved and learn more deeply when we experience things directly, but there is a lot to be gained from observation.We gain a sense of what is possible even if not (yet) directly experienced. Just think of what you have learned from watching a friend, family member, or even someone on television make or do something and then copying them.
Observation and awareness of others is the beginning of empathy towards them. Empathy can't be reduced to a process. But we can learn to listen to people and observe their external signs of emotion, to help us understand their inner experience, how they are different from us and where they are similar.
Observation of our own bodies and responses to life is the beginning of knowing ourselves better. How does your body feel when different things are happening to you? What does happiness, contentment, sadness, anger or excitement feel like? Learn to listen to yourself to understand why you behave in certain ways and whether your actions are true or false to yourself. Observation of ourselves is also core to meditation and mindfulness practice.
Exercises: observation as awareness
“How can we teach unobservant people to notice what nature and life are trying to show them? First of all they must be taught to look at, to listen to, and to hear what is beautiful. Such habits elevate their minds and arouse feelings which will leave deep traces in their emotion memories. Nothing in life is more beautiful than nature, and it should be the object of constant observation.To begin with, take a little flower, or a petal from it, or a spider web, or a design made by frost on the window pane. Try to express in words what it is in these things that gives pleasure. Such an effort causes you to observe the object more closely, more effectively, in order to appreciate it and define its qualities.
And do not shun the darker side of nature. Look for it in marshes, in the slime of the sea, amid plagues of insects and remember that hidden behind these phenomena there is beauty, just as in loveliness there is unloveliness. What is truly beautiful has nothing to fear from disfigurement. Indeed, disfigurement often emphasizes and sets off beauty in higher relief. Search out both beauty and its opposite, and define them, learn to know and to see them, Otherwise your conception of beauty will be incomplete, saccharine, prettified, sentimental.
Next turn to what the human race has produced in art, literature, music.
At the bottom of every process of obtaining creative material for our work is emotion. Feeling, however, does not replace an immense amount of work on the part of our intellects.” (Constantin Stanislavski, An Actor Prepares)
This beautiful, poetic quote from Stanislavski shows how we can begin to observe the world around us, and appreciate what it offers. Further exercises in open, mindful observation can be found in previous articles from this series. Most, if not all, of the exercises use observation. If you wish, revisit the exercises in observing your own emotions in Emotion; using your senses in Emotion Memory Part 1 and 2; or observing your own and others’ tempo rhythms in Tempo & Rhythm Part 1 and 2.
In the last two sentences of the quote, Stanislavski speaks of the work required by the intellect to work and live intentionally. Observation and other tools of Intellect, do require work. However, it is joyful work that delivers great benefits and enriches our lives and experience. Next, I discuss some of the work involved in making use of observation.
Scientific or rational observation
Scientific observation begins with curiosity, and then brings in rational thought to gain knowledge from the observation. Isaac Newton famously thought up the theory of gravitation after watching an apple fall from a tree.We all engage in rational observation in life. Observations from any of your senses can create a question which spurs the intellect to action. You may then want to find out more information, or experiment to test your theory about what is happening. Your observation of your investigations will answer your question or spur further enquiry. For example, you may notice that crowds are gathering around a particular shop and wonder why. Wandering over to see what is happening is an investigation, which will answer your question quite easily. A more complex investigation is required if, for example, you notice that your tomato plants are happier in one spot in your garden than another. You may have to experiment with soil, water, sunlight, and other options to understand whether the reason was the quality of soil, the amount of water or light, or the insect life in the area.
The scientific method is more formal and precise than the examples above, but they have the same base of observation, questions, taking steps to investigate the questions, and observation of the results to come to an answer. One important thing that we can learn from scientific, rational observation, is a warning about our biases, specifically confirmation bias.
As I mentioned in Intellect, inputs to our thoughts are coloured by our emotions. Our perception is a subjective process: we cannot process all sensory data, so our brains fill in the gaps based on our previous experiences and internal models of how the world works. Therefore, our observations are biased towards what we expect or want to see. This is confirmation bias. This bias is unavoidable, but it helps to be aware of it. We can also work on improving the accuracy of our observations, and be prepared to question the truth of the conclusions we draw from observation.
Exercises: recall of observation
Stanislavski provides various exercises to develop the power of observation, so that our recollection of what we’ve observed is vivid and accurate. Once such exercise in remembering the events of your day, is described in Intellect. I share two more exercises here, that can be practised daily.“If I ask you a perfectly simple question now, ‘Is it cold out today?’ before you answer, even with a ‘yes’, or ‘it’s not cold’, or ‘I didn’t notice’, you should, in your imagination, go back on to the street and remember how you walked or rode. You should test your sensations by remembering how the people you met were wrapped up, how they turned up their collars, how the snow crunched underfoot, and only then can you answer my question. If you adhere strictly to this rule in all your exercises, no matter to what part of our programme they belong, you will find your imagination developing and growing in power.” (Ibid)
As Stanislavski shows, when answering or thinking of simple questions about the weather, people you met, meetings or other events you attended, take a few moments to return to those moments and try to remember your sensations vividly, before answering the question:
- What were people wearing? Types of clothing, colours, etc.
- What were you and others doing that is relevant to the question?
- What was the environment like? What objects were nearby, what objects were in use? What were their shapes, colours and textures?
- Were there any sounds or smells that caught your attention?
“When you have gone to bed at night, and put out your light, train yourself to go over your whole day, and try to put in every possible concrete detail. If you are recalling a meal, don’t just remember the food, but visualize the dishes on which it was served, and their general arrangement. Bring back all the thoughts and inner emotions which were touched by your conversation at the meal. At other times refresh your earlier memories. Make an effort to review in detail the apartments, rooms, and various places where you have happened to take a walk, or drunk tea, and visualize individual objects connected with these activities. Try also to recall, as vividly as possible, your friends and also strangers, and even others who have passed away. That is the only way to develop a strong, sharp, solid power of inner and outer attention. To accomplish this requires prolonged and systematic work.” (Ibid)
This exercise is similar to the above, but more systematic. As you go to bed at night, think through your day in as much detail as possible. If it feels too time consuming to think through the whole day in detail, choose one or two events to spend your attention on.
As you practise these exercises, you will find yourself noticing more details, more vividly, in your day-to-day life. You will become more present in your world.
Where does this lead us?
Stanislavski says “Intensive observation of an object naturally arouses a desire to do something with it. To do something with it in turn intensifies your observation of it. This mutual inter-reaction establishes a stronger contact with the object of your attention.” (Ibid)As we improve our powers of observation in life, we become more present, involved and invested in it. In this way, observation is a spur to action through being present in the world and paying attention to it. We observe with an idea of future action in mind, guiding us. As we interact with something or someone we learn more and gain more detailed feedback, which we use to enrich future interactions. These interactions are key to an intentional life.
Dedicated observation is core to disciplined concentration of attention and vivid, active imagination, both of which are tools of the Intellect. Next, I discuss Concentration of Attention, which is about focusing and sustaining our observation, so we pay attention when and where it is needed.
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