Practising active attention: why I’m launching a collaborative chat space
Be part of a collaborative ecosystem for active attention where we practise attention, together
This is a Sunday Pocket Note
Over the past six weeks, I’ve shared plenty of the rich resources available in the Kumapelo space through these Sunday Pocket Notes. This week, I want to extend a different kind of invitation: a move from reading about the work to doing the work together.
Kumapelo Space: Join my new subscriber chat
I’m introducing a subscriber chat for the Kumapelo space. While it functions like a group chat, I have designed this environment to be very intentional: it is a place to practise attention, together.
I have designed this space to be very intentional: it will be a place to practise attention, together
Let’s transform our attention muscles
In her most recent newsletter Maria Popover, 26-Apr-2026, discussed how the habits by which we govern our attention are the most powerful instruments we have for being active agents in our own lives. She suggests that what we habitually let in shapes what we become. She particularly highlights how we focus our attention and suggests ways to achieve “a better balance between passive and active attention.”
“What we habitually let in …. shape what we become … the choices that become habits are the most powerful instrument we have for being active agents in our destiny — none more transformative than the habits by which we govern our attention.”
[Maria Popover, 26-Apr-2026]
The primary objective of this chat space is to strengthen our attention muscles.
My intention is for this chat to be a place where we recognise those habits and intentionally align them. This is not a space for noise, productivity pressures, or 24/7 engagement. It is a space to slow down and discover what is actually there when we pay attention.
What’s in it for you as a Subscriber?
Be part of a collaborative ecosystem for active attention
The Chat enhances my moodling practice by transforming it into a collaborative, real-time environment where you, as subscribers, take an active role in observing and focusing your attention, rather than merely consuming content passively.
It adds a dynamic layer to my creative ecosystem, allowing you to directly experience my method while developing your ability to cultivate active attention, sharpen your perception, and strengthen your self-trust.
What to expect in the Chat Space: live noticing and micro-mapping
My intention is that The Chat Space will be a collaborative space for practicing attention together. I may kickstart and encourage discussions around the following prompts:
Live Noticing Threads: Engage in shared, real-time observations of a specific image, object or moment, where we articulate what captures our attention in unique ways.
Micro Mapping Moments: Focus on small, individual actions that reflect my suggested mapping process, without requiring anyone to create a full-blown map.
In-the-Margins Sharing: I will occasionally share unedited fragments from my process, showing where my attention took hold without refining or explaining it.
We will have the opportunity to connect through text, images and video.
Paid subscribers are welcome to start discussions.
If you have any suggestions for additional chat threads, please feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear your ideas!
You’re very welcome to join in with conversations in the Chat or simply to watch from the side-lines to follow along. Both are part of the practice.
Over time, this will become a space where we actively hone our attention and we’ll see what emerges from there. Join me there, we start on Sunday evening, 26th April 2026.
How to get started with Chat
Get the Substack app by clicking this link or the button below. New chat threads won’t be sent sent via email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens. You can also access chat on the web.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.
Looking for updates from my studio?
You can support me by signing up for a paid subscription, restacking and sharing my stories and posts. For the price of a coffee, you can also support me through my Buy Me a Coffee page ⬇️
Sunday Pocket Notes are small reflective postcards - moments of curiosity, insight, and exploration from inside Kumapelo.