--- content_date: 2020-04-14 feed: "DANIEL_ON_SLOPE" codex_section: "S08" codex_candidate: true source: Scotomaville source_file: 01.10-creating-silence.pdf chapter: 01.10-creating-silence total_pdf_pages: 6 volume: v1 title: Creating Silence monomyth_stage: "05 - Crossing the Threshold" category: - awareness - strategy tags: - creating-silence - attention-economy - inner-voice - mindfulness - meditation - scotomaville - awareness - mental-noise - intuition - leaving-scotomaville summary: | I share how to create inner silence to escape the addictive hooks and external noise invading our minds in the attention economy. By understanding the gap between our brain's 400-600 words per minute processing and our 125 words per minute speech, we can seize control of our thoughts and connect with intuition and awareness. This mindfulness practice is a key tool for leaving Scotomaville and choosing to be rather than do. qr_links: - https://youtu.be/rjY4g0yZ9Aw - https://youtu.be/Q1RB52HRKWU --- # 01.10-creating-silence ## Spread 001 [p1–p2] **type:** image_heavy | **img coverage:** L=33% R=22% **heading:** A ‘hook’ is an intentionally addic **urls:** `https://youtu.be/` ### Visual description The top half of the spread is dominated by a wide, full-bleed photograph of a serene snowy mountain landscape: a shallow stream flows through the foreground over rocks and grass, flanked by snow-dusted pine trees, with jagged, sunlit peaks rising in the background under a clear blue sky. Overlaid on the upper left of this image is a thin white border containing the small text “VOL 1 AWARENESS,” while the large white title “.10 CREATING SILENCE” spans the center-right portion of the photograph. Below the image, the layout splits into two pages. The left page features a narrow vertical column of text running along the margin that reads “IN THE ATTENTION ECONOMY, OUR THOUGHTS ARE THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET WE ALONE SHOULD CONTROL,” followed by two columns of body text that begin with the excerpt about music “hooks” and external intrusions. The right page contains the continuation of the body text, a mention of Treena Kerr, and a prominent black-and-white QR code in the upper right with the URL “https://youtu.be/rjY4g0yZ9Aw” printed beneath it. The dominant visual—the quiet, open winter scene—functions as a metaphorical counterpoint to the chapter’s discussion of mental noise and invasive “hooks,” visually representing the inner silence the text advocates creating. No people appear in the imagery, and the photograph has a polished, illustrative quality rather than a raw documentary snapshot from the road. ### Left page A ‘hook’ is an intentionally addictive set of lyrics and beat in music. It sticks in our minds and plays over and over and over. It can be maddening. What can we do to stop the ‘hook’ of overbearing noise in our ’gap,’ the displacement of our inner voice by repetitive words and beats? People create intrusions by fixating on their ‘thing.’ Drag boats, airplanes, boom boxes, quad-runners, motorcycles, and more invade our space, disrupting us. Headphones, earplugs, and distance can do the trick on the outside; what about on the inside? Media channels and creative artists line our active minds with lyrics and music. You don’t have to be subservient to other people’s ‘music.’ You can learn to create silence and regain control of your inner voice. You are not powerless. You don’t have to give in. You can get out of Scotomaville by creating your inner silence. It feels uncomfortable at first. Look at all the white space on this spread. Treena Kerr, wife of Graham Kerr, of “The Galloping Gourmet” television series would drop by to teach a skill called ‘listening in the gap’. In the attention economy, our thoughts are the most valuable asset we alone should control. .10 CREATING VOL 1 AWARENESS ### Right page https://youtu.be/rjY4g0yZ9Aw SILENCE ## Spread 002 [p3–p4] **type:** text_only | **img coverage:** L=25% R=19% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 96 Depending on where you check, our brains can process between 400 and 600 words per minute, but we only speak about 125 words per minute. So our brains are functioning a lot faster than our ears! This disparity or ‘gap’ is what Treena refer enced. So the gap is at least 300 to 400 wpm! That’s an incredible opportunity to seize the attention you have complete control over. No one else can take that away from you. It’s a fabulous thing to get the noise out of your head and mentally appreciate quiet. You determine what to do with the EXTRA WORDS and all of that extra processing. You can get in touch with what’s going on down here (motioning to heart, chest), this pathway of intuition and understanding, and feelings and awareness and soaking in the ‘gestalt’ of it all — just being — not doing. A dear friend who passed away several years ago, Bob Moawad, would say, ‘Curiously, they call us human beings, not human doings.’ Taking charge of AWARENESS enables us to do less and achieve more. So one of the tools you’re gain ing, in this, probably the shortest episode, is called mindfulness or meditation, simply being at peace, or being still. I call it creating silence. Treena & Graham Kerr Bob Moawad ## Spread 003 [p5–p6] **type:** image_heavy | **img coverage:** L=53% R=20% **heading:** Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE **urls:** `https://youtu.be/` ### Visual description The left page opens with a large documentary photograph of Daniel and Angelina in cycling helmets, positioned outdoors against a lakeside landscape; Angelina (left) makes a V-sign gesture near her eye while Daniel (right) holds the camera in a white cycling jersey covered in handwritten notes and graphics. Below the photo, the chapter text continues directly into instructions on breathing and posture, followed by “DISCUSS” and “REFLECT” headings each paired with a scannable QR code and a small embedded thumbnail showing a man’s hands holding an object beneath the label “v1.10 REFLECTION.” The right page is mostly empty white space dominated by a minimalist black line drawing near the top—vertical bars and dots arranged in a horizontal sequence with one bar replaced by a hand-drawn oval—positioned above a large, centered block of gray text: “THERE’S A COMPETITION FOR THE GAP IN YOUR ATTENTION. BE AN INDEPENDENT CHAMPION. RESIST FILLING EVERY MOMENT WITH CHAOS, NOISE AND DISTRACTION.” The photo is straightforward documentary imagery from the journey, while the line drawing functions as a spare, abstract metaphor for attention and silence rather than a literal illustration. A thin footer line separates the content from the page number 98 and the running head “LEAVING SCOTOMAVILLE.” ### Left page Leaving SCOTOMAVILLE 98 One of the quickest ways that I know of in getting a musical hook, the jingle that won’t leave is listening to your breathe and posture. Stand tall, listen to your breath, fully in and out. Take control of the gap between noise and awareness. Own your space. You have abundant access to processing, and intelligence. You have what you need to change course. Silence is a fabulous tool for getting the heck out of Scotomaville. You are much appreciated. REFLECT https://youtu.be/Q1RB52HRKWU DISCUSS ### Right page There’s a competition for the gap in your attention. Be an independent champion. Resist filling every moment with chaos, noise and distraction.