Attune-Resolve-Review¶

The core process of CL is a cycle of attuning, resolving, and reviewing (ARR for short).

Attune¶

We attune by bringing mindful attention to thoughts and sensations. We notice what we're experiencing and connect with our intuitions. Beyond mere perception, attuning implies sensitivity, interest, concern, and understanding. We can also explore the larger contexts that frame whatever we are experiencing.

Resolve¶

After attuning, we choose how to respond, what to do next. We might choose to maintain the focus, to shift away, to intervene, to study more, or to take some other action. The best options depend on the details of each circumstance. Some cases call for immediate bold interventions. Others call for careful planning and processing.

To guide our choices in a healthy direction aligned with our commitments, we can check for a whole-body OK when considering a response. A healthy response should help to relieve concerns that arose when attuning without introducing greater problems.

Review¶

Review involves attuning again while considering our past responses. We attune to our memories, viewing things with hindsight. We can recall our process of attuning and resolving and then attune to the thoughts and feelings that arise during our recollection. We can then consider what insights we can learn, what adjustments to make in our process going forward, and what issues remain to still resolve.

Overlapping and fuzzy stages¶

We need not think of ARR stages as some strict, distinct sequence. In any moment, we can recognize how aspects of all the stages occur at once.

All the stages involve the others. As we attune, we resolve any lack of initial focus by choosing among methods of attuning. As we work to resolve a concern, we attune to our thoughts and feelings about resolution options. We use both attuning and resolving within the review process.

As we ingrain the process in our habits, we can learn to use it intuitively without explicitly marking distinct steps. Once we know the process, we can call it to mind with just the prompt to attune. With that conscious start, we can trust that we will move through the other stages from there.