Importance of Paying Close Attention: How Noticing the Small Things Can Change Everything
There’s something quietly revolutionary about simply noticing. About not rushing past what you’re feeling. About not brushing aside that flicker of discomfort, or joy, or intuition.
In the episode, All You Have to Do Is Pay Attention, Jaclyn Steele Thurmond and her husband Sam Thurmond invite us into this tender, necessary practice. It’s not complicated. It doesn’t require fancy tools or hours of meditation. It just asks for your presence.
And in a world that constantly asks you to be somewhere else—this is radical.
Paying Close Attention: A Portal to Deeper Presence
Paying close attention isn’t just about observing what’s around you. It’s about turning toward what’s within you. The tiny voice that says, “Slow down.” The flutter in your stomach when something’s off. The warmth in your chest when you’re aligned.
It’s so easy to override those cues. We live in a culture that tells us to push through, to power up, to keep going.
But what if the real strength comes in pausing?
Jaclyn reminds us that paying attention isn’t about self-surveillance—it’s about self-connection. Noticing with kindness. Being with yourself in the in-between moments. These aren’t distractions from the path—they are the path.
This theme beautifully echoes what she explores in Comfort in Turbulent Times: A Gentle Guide to Peace Amid Chaos, where she shares ways to stay grounded even when life feels uncertain.
What Is a Sign of a Person Paying Attention?
You can feel it in their energy. Someone who is paying close attention is present. They’re not rehearsing their response while you speak. They’re not rushing past a moment that asks for reverence.
Their eyes soften. Their shoulders drop. They respond instead of react.
According to a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, people who consistently practice mindful attention have higher emotional intelligence, lower stress, and stronger relationships. That’s not surprising. Because when you’re really paying attention, you’re able to honor what’s true—both for yourself and for the people around you.
If this resonates, you may also love The Belief Blueprint: How to Rewire Your Mind for Wild Success, where Jaclyn shares how noticing the thoughts behind our actions can unlock new levels of clarity and trust.
Little Practices That Make a Big Impact
This isn’t about adding another obligation to your day. It’s about learning to live with your eyes—and your heart—open.
Jaclyn and Sam offer simple, heartfelt ways to start practicing:
Breathe before you speak. One conscious breath can bring you back into your body and soften your tone.
Name what you’re feeling. “I feel tight in my chest right now.” “I feel scattered.” Awareness begins with honesty.
Notice beauty on purpose. The way the sunlight hits your coffee mug. A single sentence in a book that stops you. Beauty is a breadcrumb trail back to yourself.
Ask: What is this moment asking of me? Not what you should do, but what’s needed, right now.
This gentle attention helps the nervous system regulate—and reminds your body that presence is safe. The Frequency of Self-Sabotage: Why Growth Feels Unsafe (and How to Move Through It) dives even deeper into how the body responds to change, and how we can lovingly meet resistance with compassion.
A Personal Reflection from Jaclyn
When Jaclyn and Sam recorded this episode, they were in a season of noticing. Of slowing down. Of listening closely to what was shifting inside and around them.
They weren’t in a hurry to “figure it out.” Instead, they leaned into the pause. The stillness. The invitation.
And from that place, something beautiful emerged: clarity, tenderness, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live on frequency—not force.
If you’re in a season of change, growth, or simply feeling untethered, revisit How to Master Your Mindset: Unlocking the Power of Thought to Shape Your Life — it’s a tender companion for grounding your thoughts and raising your frequency. for grounded, embodied support.
Final Thought: Attention Is Love
At its core, paying close attention is a love letter. To yourself. To your life. To this wild, holy moment you’re living in.
You don’t have to hustle for worthiness.
You don’t have to wait until everything makes sense.
You just have to be here.
This is your invitation. To listen more deeply. To notice more gently. To trust more fully.
Because everything you’re seeking is already whispering. And all you have to do—is pay attention.
Live on purpose. Live on frequency.
Ien Araneta - editor of The Freq Show & The Beckon Times
