pay attention

Be Attentive

Many mistakes in reasoning are explained by the fact that
we are not paying sufficient attention to the situation in
which we find ourselves. This is especially true in familiar
situations. That very familiarity causes us to make careless
judgments about facts right before our eyes. We misread a
situation because we are skimming it, when what we should
be doing is perusing it. Often, we assume that a familiar situation
will be but a repeat performance of a similar situation
we've experienced before. But, in the strictest sense, there
are no repeat performances. Every situation is unique, and
we must be alert to its uniqueness.

The phrase "to pay attention" is telling. It reminds us
that attention costs something. Attention demands an active,
energetic response to every situation, to the persons,
places, and things that make up the situation. It is impossible
to be truly attentive and passive at the same time. Don't
just look, see. Don't just hear, listen. Train yourself to focus
on details. The little things are not to be ignored, for it is
just the little things that lead us to the big things.

- being logical : a guide to good thinking by d. q. mcinerny