We notice that we are able(a capacity that is innate and can be cultivated through practice) to not pay attention to thoughts, regardless of what is going on inside our mind, and remain focused on another activity or state,
- in the same way that we are able to not pay attention to external sounds when we are occupied with something,
- in the same way that we are able to not pay attention to subtle tickles in our body, unless we choose to focus there.
If we focus our energy and attention on the tickling or the sound, even if the attention is negative (“I won’t pay attention to this thing now”), we won’t be able to genuinely ignore them. We need to stop entertaining them. Probably the same attention theory applies to all everyday tasks and interactions with people as well.
For achieving the above in a healthy and fruitful way, we need to not entertain the source of irritation. This can only happen by putting our focus on other objects. In the end, ignoring is all about shifting the attention elsewhere.