Definately an odd topic for a drone forum, but in many ways quite appropriate. A few days ago, and as someone who practices mindfulness, it came to me whilst I was flying my drone for fun, that I was really thinking about, at least for a few seconds, was looking forward to a nice cool drink when I got home (100F degree afternoon). It then struck me that, so many times when flying, my mind drifts for a few seconds, to other things. That phone call I have to make, issues within the family, an overseas trip that I must do but don't want to do etc. Mindfulness awareness has taught me to pull myself back into focus on what I am doing in that moment, ie flying, but that in itself takes months of self awareness training to do. It does not come naturally.
Tony Kerns Model of Airmanship includes the bedrock principle of knowledge of ones self including mental state to achieve full situational awareness Drone flying requires focus and attention on what you are doing, but all humans suffer from "Monkey Mind". So how do other pilots deal with this, or are they even aware it is happening whilst they are in the air. Thinking about it, this perhaps answers some of the "pilot error" that can so often lead to crashes and accidents.
Causes of the Monkey Mind
Quote from a mindfulness website "Consider that we humans have around fifty thousand separate thoughts each day, many of them on the same topic. Under the conscious spark of awareness, we are accompanied by the ego – the chattering monkey of our internal monologue. With the noise of this monkey going on, it becomes near on impossible to be present and focused on the moment we are in. Instead we are carried away through the treetops! Because of our innate capacity for thinking, it is easy for the Monkey Mind to feed on stimuli.
When we give our attention to too many things at once, spend our lives rushing from one appointment to another and focus on what we are yet to do instead of what we are currently doing, these are like dozens of trees with enticing fruit for our monkey to chase."
So, my point of discussion is:
1 Do members admit to having "Monkey mind". My psychologist friend says we all have it, its just whether or not we recognise or admit to it
2 How do we deal with it when we are flying what is after all a heavy weight hurtling around the skies at a speed which could cause loss or damage to the drone, or damage to persons / property
This is just for fun, but members answers would no doubt be interesting and possibly educational.
Tony Kerns Model of Airmanship includes the bedrock principle of knowledge of ones self including mental state to achieve full situational awareness Drone flying requires focus and attention on what you are doing, but all humans suffer from "Monkey Mind". So how do other pilots deal with this, or are they even aware it is happening whilst they are in the air. Thinking about it, this perhaps answers some of the "pilot error" that can so often lead to crashes and accidents.
Causes of the Monkey Mind
Quote from a mindfulness website "Consider that we humans have around fifty thousand separate thoughts each day, many of them on the same topic. Under the conscious spark of awareness, we are accompanied by the ego – the chattering monkey of our internal monologue. With the noise of this monkey going on, it becomes near on impossible to be present and focused on the moment we are in. Instead we are carried away through the treetops! Because of our innate capacity for thinking, it is easy for the Monkey Mind to feed on stimuli.
When we give our attention to too many things at once, spend our lives rushing from one appointment to another and focus on what we are yet to do instead of what we are currently doing, these are like dozens of trees with enticing fruit for our monkey to chase."
So, my point of discussion is:
1 Do members admit to having "Monkey mind". My psychologist friend says we all have it, its just whether or not we recognise or admit to it
2 How do we deal with it when we are flying what is after all a heavy weight hurtling around the skies at a speed which could cause loss or damage to the drone, or damage to persons / property
This is just for fun, but members answers would no doubt be interesting and possibly educational.
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