Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses how people may not recall details irrelevant to their situation, impacting testimony and the credibility of eyewitnesses. Recall depends on awareness and focus. A doctor and a lawyer witnessing a car accident might notice different details: the doctor, medical signs; the lawyer, liability evidence.

Humans operate at varying levels of consciousness and focus. Lisa Butler (“The Dissociations of Everyday Life,” Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, July 2004) notes that dissociative experiences range from minor (e.g., daydreaming) to severe (e.g., memory disorders), forming a continuum (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986; Ludwig, 1983; Putnam, 1989). Can we develop greater focus and awareness? Do certain foci improve health, cognition, or mood?

Mindfulness studies, like Zeidan et al. (Consciousness and Cognition, 2010, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.03.014), show meditation enhances cognition and mood. In one study, a control group listened to a recorded book for 20 minutes daily, while the experimental group practiced mindfulness exercises for four days, focusing on breathing and gently dismissing intrusive thoughts. The meditation group showed significant improvements in mood and cognition on various standardized tests and measures. These techniques promote metacognition and stress reduction by accepting feelings non-judgmentally, reducing obsession and enhancing focus.

The mind filters vast sensory data, prioritizing one focus while backgrounding others, like a flashlight shining on one spot. Imbalance can lead to either scattered attention manifesting in an impulsive disorganized personality or rigid hyperfocus, manifesting itself in obsessional, rigid behaviors. Both can cause dysfunction. 

The Asher Yatzar prayer, recited after bodily functions, marvels at the body’s balance and homeostatic qualities: “If one of these orifices that is ordinarily closed becomes opened, or if one that is ordinarily open becomes closed, it would be impossible to live.” I believe this applies to mental and spiritual health, too. Reciting Asher Yatzar reminds us to maintain equilibrium in consciousness, fostering emotional and spiritual well-being.