What is living aware? If this question has been on your mind, you are not alone. It’s not uncommon for people to feel a sense of disconnection from the world around them. They go through the motions of their day-to-day life, but never really take the time to stop and appreciate all that is happening. Living aware is all about developing this appreciation and taking action based on it. In this blog post, we will explore what living aware means, its benefits, and how you can go about incorporating it into your life. So, let’s get started!
What exactly is living aware?
To live freely is to live aware. It is living consciously in the present, unburdened from reliving the past and worrying about the future. It’s the art of inspecting your thoughts and being aware of your actions and their circumstances.
What makes us different from the animal kingdom? Animal species are driven by their survival instinct solely. Eat, mate, sleep and repeat. An animal has no sense of its “being” or consciousness. However, what sets us apart from other species is our sense of self. Our ability to complex reasoning and introspection (exploring one’s thoughts and feelings) makes us unique. However, are we actually using these natural talents and characteristics? In today’s fast-paced world, aren’t we living in the same cycle of eating, mating, sleeping, and repeating?
How do you even know if you’re living aware?
Ask yourself these questions and determine the answer yourself!
●Are you honest with yourself?
● Ask yourself questions. Are you delighted, or are you pretending for other people’s benefit?
● Are you intentional with your words, actions, habits, decisions, and the way you live life?
Living Consciously
If your answer to the above questions was “no,” then you are not living consciously. But first, pat yourself on the back for answering honestly! The first step towards a better, conscious existence. We will now guide you on essential elements and simple ways to subtly embed self-awareness in your daily life.
1. Ask the “What.”
2. Practice mindfulness
3. Becoming a better listener and asking for feedback
4. Spend time with yourself
The What
You can climb the highest mountains or cross the stormiest of seas, yet the key to finding inner peace and reclaiming control over your thoughts lies within you.
Self-reflection is a wonderful tool for achieving conscious living. When receiving criticism or experiencing strong emotions, people focus on the why. Why was I criticized? Why did I make a mistake? Why am I feeling this way? You ponder and wonder and agonize over why things happened the way they did. There is no answer to why because we don’t have entry to the unconscious, so we design the solutions ourselves; wrong solutions, undoubtedly. More often than not, these answers are self-deprecating, highlighting our weaknesses and nitpicking the decisions we make.
So, instead, ask what. What made my superior react this way? What did I do wrong? What made me feel this way? This tiny difference in words makes the entire situation and its outcome very different. “What” questions are more productive and highlight objectives and future goals rather than past mistakes.
Mindfulness
Throughout our own lives, our mind has been conditioned by society, our upbringing, experiences, and beliefs. As a result, every perception that we develop is inspired by these four variables.
Mindfulness is the practice, or I would say the art of embracing your present state and giving up judgments, labels and limiting beliefs.
When you suspend judgment, you explore your mind with a new curiosity. It’s like meeting a new person or perhaps an old friend. You discover your talents, abilities, weaknesses, and traits you never knew existed before.
Becoming a better listener and asking for feedback
Listening is not the same as hearing. It requires control, patience, and purpose. Listen to your friends, family, lovers, or colleagues. About the little things and big things, listen without judgment and with empathy. You will learn to understand people better and even find yourself reflected in them. You will discern how others perceive you. This way, you will master listening to yourself—a mighty step towards self-awareness.
Of course, you can’t live consciously just looking inwards. Asking others for feedback to see the bigger, better picture of who you are and how others perceive your actions and words.
Spend time with yourself
To live consciously, you must have your own space and give yourselves enough time to let your thoughts flow freely, without distractions or interruptions. It is necessary to spend time with yourself to self-reflect and to understand yourself fully. Reading, writing down whatever comes to mind, meditating, doing any physical activity, going on walks, etc., are all productive activities you can do to clear your mind and live freely.
Setting the standards
One must have standards for themselves. These are not necessarily a set of rules or essential elements; rather, they are your expectation towards yourself in a way that only matters to you and no one else. For example, when you set a level of happiness for yourself, you can look into yourself to find out if you’re happy. If your recent experience does not match your standard of joy, then it would suit you to remove yourself from that situation. Living aware is deeply feeling and acknowledging every emotion that you feel when you feel it. Do not dismiss your emotions for the sake of the world; instead, ponder over them. Why are you feeling like that? How much of it are you feeling? Does it match your standards? Are you reacting appropriately?
Setting the standards also means envisioning the best version of yourself and striving to achieve that self. This, by no means, implies that you are perfect. It just means you make the best of what you are given within your capabilities.
The benefits of living aware and how it can help you achieve goals?
There are several benefits to living aware and these can help you achieve goals.
1.Being present in the moment:
One benefit is that it allows you to be more present in the moment. This can be helpful in achieving goals because it allows you to focus on what is happening in the present moment and not get distracted by thoughts about the past or future.
2. Improved decision-making:
Living aware can also help improve your decision-making skills. In order to make better decisions, it is important to be aware of what is happening around us and within us. When we are fully aware, we can more easily see the consequences of our actions and make choices that are in line with our values. Additionally, self-awareness allows us to be present in the moment and makes it easier to notice warning signs that something might not be right.
For example, let’s say you are considering whether or not to have a drink at a party. If you are aware of the potential consequences of alcohol consumption – such as making poor decisions, getting sick, or getting in trouble – then you are more likely to make a decision that is in your best interest. On the other hand, if you are not aware of these potential consequences, you may be more likely to take a drink without thinking about the possible negative outcomes.
Similarly, if you are aware of your own positive or negative emotions and triggers, you can make decisions that avoid situations that might lead to negative emotional states. For example, if you know that you tend to get angry when you are tired, you can make a decision to go to bed instead of watching another episode of your favorite show.
3. Increased creativity:
Another benefit of conscious living is that it can increase your creativity. By remaining aware of your surroundings and the people in them, you can open yourself up to new possibilities and ideas. When you are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities, you are more likely to find them. This allows you to be more creative in your thinking and approach new challenges with a fresh perspective. Additionally, living aware can help reduce stress and anxiety, both of which can impede creativity. When you are more relaxed and at ease, you are better able to think creatively and come up with new ideas. Therefore, living aware can have a positive impact on your creativity.
4. Greater clarity:
Finally, living aware can also help increase your clarity of thought. There are many ways in which living aware can lead to greater clarity. One way is by simply paying attention to what is happening around us and within us at any given moment. This can help us to see things more clearly and make better decisions. Another way is by taking time to reflect on our experiences and learn from them. This can help us to understand ourselves and the world around us better. Finally, by staying in the present moment and being mindful of our thoughts, feelings, and actions, we can help to prevent future problems from arising. By living aware in these ways, we can gain a greater understanding of our authentic selves and the world around us, which can lead to a more fulfilling and happier life.
Tips to start living consciously in your everyday life
Following are some tips that might help you to start living more consciously in your day-to-day life:
1. Set some time aside every day for reflection.
This can be the first thing on your to-do list or the last thing at night – whatever works best for you. During this time, take stock of how you’re feeling and what’s been going on in your own life. This one task will help you to become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns.
2. Pay attention to your breath.
Often, when we’re feeling stressed or anxious, our breathing becomes shallow and fast. By consciously slowing down and deepening our breaths, we can help to calm ourselves and bring ourselves back into the present moment.
3. Be mindful of your surroundings.
When you’re going about your daily activities, try to really pay attention to everything physically present around you – the sights, sounds, smells, and textures. Appreciating the simple things in life can help us to feel more connected and grounded.
4. Listen to your body.
Tuning in to our physical sensations can be a great way to check in with ourselves and see how we’re really feeling. If we’re feeling tense or uncomfortable, it may be a sign that we need to take some time out for self-care.
5. Connect with nature.
Spending time in nature – even if it’s just a brief walk in the park – can help us to feel more centered and connected to something larger than ourselves. It can also be a great way to de-stress and unwind.
6. Be kind to yourself.
Learning to be more compassionate towards ourselves is an important part of fully conscious living. Whenever you find yourself being critical or judgmental, try to stop and remind yourself that you are doing the best you can.
7. Make time for things that matter.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘shoulds’ – the things we think we should be doing. But it’s important to make time for the things that are truly important to us, whether that’s spending time with loved ones, pursuing a hobby, or just taking some time out for ourselves.
8. Simplify your life.
One of the best ways to reduce stress and live more consciously is to simplify your life where possible. This might mean decluttering your home, simplifying your wardrobe, or cutting back on commitments. The goal is to make your life as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. You should be able to feel a child’s joy of living each day.
9. Be present.
One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to learn to be fully present in the moment. This means letting go of distractions like our phones and laptops, and really focusing on what we’re doing and how we’re feeling. When we’re fully present, we can better appreciate all the good things that are happening in our daily lives.
10. Practice gratitude.
Focusing on what we’re grateful for is a great way to shift our focus from negative to positive. Sometimes childhood trauma, or just life in general, can make us take things for granted. Whenever you find yourself feeling down, make a list of all the things you’re grateful for in your life. This could be anything from your health to your family and friends, or even just the fact that you have a roof over your head. A homeless person smiling is a good reminder that joy comes from within.
11. Live with intention.
When we live with intention, we make choices based on what we want to achieve in our lives, rather than letting external factors dictate our decisions. This might mean setting goals and working towards them, or simply being more mindful of how our actions align with our values.
12. Be yourself.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to be authentic and true to who you are. This means accepting yourself – flaws and all – and living in a way that is aligned with your values and beliefs. When you can do this, you’ll find that your life is more fulfilling and satisfying.
In conclusion
Living consciously is the key to having a healthy mindset. It allows people to stay in touch with who they are and who they are supposed to be. It gives you the freedom to express your thoughts clearly because you are the master of your feelings, sentiments, and the way you perceive the world. Living aware is living free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the experience of awareness?
The experience of awareness can be described as an emotional state of being awake and fully present in the moment. It is an open and receptive state of mind that allows us to see clearly, think clearly, and feel our emotions fully. When we are aware, we are able to connect with our true selves and the world around us in a deeper way.
Awareness is not something that we can achieve or accomplish; it is simply a way of being. However, there are certain practices that can help us to become more aware. Meditation, for example, is a powerful tool for cultivating pure awareness. Other practices such as mindfulness, present moment awareness, and self-inquiry can also be helpful in deepening our experience of awareness.
What is your personal conscious living philosophy?
Living aware is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of being fully aware of and present in every moment. It is about living life with intention and purpose, and being mindful of the impact our actions have on ourselves and others. It is about making choices that are aligned with our values and consciously taking action to create the empowered life we want to live.
Living aware is not about perfection, it is about growth and progress. It is about learning from our mistakes and making changes that will lead us closer to our goals. It is a journey and one that we are each on for our own individual reasons.
