Awareness. The profound nature of a shift in focus by Eric2 Tric4 | Sep 22, 2020 | Uncategorized | 0 comments Awareness Awareness is being awake to your own presence in this moment. Awareness starts with observation. Observing the breath is a powerful way to grow the skill of awareness. Observing how the breath feels; observing where the breath is in the body; observing how moving through the day changes the breath. Awareness is non-judgmental. It is simply the profound skill of being able to notice without judging. That means noticing with an interest in understanding much more than an interest in changing. Non-judgmental awareness allows the self to settle in the moment and see more clearly. Awareness allows subtle changes to emerge that have cumulative larger effects. Becoming aware of the subtleties of the breath during waking moments can profoundly influence more obvious feelings like shortness of breath, anxiety, persistent thoughts, and physical pain. Just as we develop poor postural or eating habits, we can develop faulty breathing habits that make life less easy and enjoyable. These habits can become a new normal over time, even though they may make us less well. By increasing awareness of our patterns and habits, we open the door for a more natural set point; a set point that brings ease and health. Awareness is focus. Left to its own conditioning, the mind will follow patterns of thinking that are often multi-directional. Multi-directional thinking antagonizes the nervous system that allows us to feel content, peaceful, and happy. Feeling content, peaceful, and happy is crucial for rest, repair, digestion, and (you guessed it) happiness. Focusing on the breath lays the foundation for these feelings to emerge, which is different than focusing on these feelings directly – the latter of which may or may not work. Awareness is a practice. Given that most of our breathing is unconscious and a reaction to stories we hold about our day, or simply patterns in which we are stuck, bringing consciousness to our breathing takes frequent (non-judgmental) check-ins. This takes patience, and above all, affectionate, persistent practice. The more we practice, the better we get at settling the flurry in our own being. In this practice, it is possible to hold to such a story. “I am rooted in the awareness of my breath. I am aware of the front, back, and sides of my body. I am aware of my surroundings. I am aware of my thoughts. In this awareness, I am aware that I am the observer, not the things being observed. In this, I simply see. I am no thing, and I am all things. I am aware.” We wish you many moments of awareness. Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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