I’ve recently noticed that a particular meditation technique is unusually helpful for maintaining “scout mindset”; that is, embodying openness and curiosity towards new ideas, even when they trigger intense emotions. I call this meditative state “open awareness” (apologies for reinventing the wheel here, meditators!).

The goal of “open awareness” is to be wholly present and cognizant of what’s happening, yet avoid being sucked into a particular emotional state that is triggered by the information one hears. Crucially, one cannot be “shut off” from these emotions; they are information too! To maintain open awareness, one must notice internal experiences, yet avoid them dominating one’s conscious experience. Being callous and disregarding of one’s internal experience is not “open awareness”; there’s a delicate balance here!

The power of open awareness is that it allows one to be fully present with another’s pain or even see oneself as the “villain of another’s story”, yet avoid losing one’s foundational beliefs or “self-gaslighting”. I think this technique is tremendously useful for approaching complicated conversations and avoiding cycles of denial and disregard, including of my own emotions. It’s not easy, though; I’m still a novice at this technique and I expect I’ll be forever improving.