Metacognition vs Meta-awareness

Metacognition is thinking about thinking. Meta-awareness is more immediate, being aware now that you are thinking about your current situation.

The term “meta” turned me off since metaphysics in college. Meta means beyond or above and implies the cognition is above normal cognition and the awareness is above normal awareness.

What Is Metacognition?

Metacognition requires you to judge the methods and strategies involved in your thinking processes. It’s how you tend to be and relative to your mood.

Meta-awareness, also known as mindfulness, means being aware of your mind’s random thoughts, internal feelings, and external situations.

Meta-awareness and Mindfulness

Meta-awareness is mindfulness. It is knowing the current content and processes in your mind. It’s knowing how you are right now, moment by moment.

Become aware of thoughts and feelings in your current body in the present moment. Functionally, you become aware that you are aware.

Mindfulness is an active process you have to do, like pushups. Mindfulness pushups involve bringing yourself back to your breath; it is mindfulness-based attention training or focusing on your attention. Attention is like a flashlight that you point at something in your environment. The brain’s orienting system is how you direct your attention. You can direct it at something in your environment with a flashlight or point it at your left foot. Your left foot now has your attention, which can be grabbed from you by distractions (a ding on your phone). How does your left foot feel if you give it a bit of mindfulness? Ding.

It is a flashlight; what is going on right now? Meta-awareness.

We also have executive functions. You can focus specifically or be open to whatever. You can decide if you want to use a flashlight or a floodlight. You step back and gain perspective when you decide to use your neocortex and flood light over the environment rather than focus on one particular aspect.

Focus, notice, redirect. It is a mindfulness pushup.

Awareness about Awareness

Meta-awareness is the awareness that you are aware and a step more immediate than metacognition.

It is specific situational awareness that is available even under stress. You are in a conscious state, thinking about your situational awareness.

Meta-awareness improves learning and feelings of well-being. You find it through mindfulness.