I think anything can be a gift/valuable if you choose to see it that way. By the same token, if you choose to read that book or attend that lame seminar with a dismissive attitude, you'll tend to enjoy it less and derive less value.
For example, once I was at a workshop on Distraction and Getting Things Done -- until I realized it was actually a workshop on being distracted by video games and addiction. The facilitator wasn't very competent, and it turned out to be powerpoints on where video game addiction came from and a sketchy home-made video of her son talking about how video game addiction ruined his life.
This was the point at which I normally would have taken out my phone and found something I might've found of more value, but then I realized some of the themes of meditation and staying present, and tried to just really soak in what she was talking about and not oscillate looking for the highest value task at the time (a mindset I'm trying to let go of).
The shift in mindset caused more exciting ideas to jog in my head- eg. when she was talking about how video games are addicting because you're always striving to reach the next level- how might I apply that to something I find more fulfilling, like getting through that long list of books I've been wanting to read?
Long tangent- but in short, an experience can be a gift if you choose to see it as such. More narrowly, even the most trivial platitudes of texts can be effective primers for good ideas.
Just moved to Melbourne from California and looking forward to meeting you guys tonight.
What made you lose the mindset? For what reasons do you wish you had it back?
I can't tell if you're being sarcastic here.