Deciphering Awareness
The light emanating from a torch brightens up the area of its fixation. The light is powerful in nature for it makes things visible in order for us to take notice of their existence and interpret them. And light means sight, visuals, and a colorful experience which we cherish! Suppose the torch falls off the hand and rolls on the floor, the torch and hence the light moves hither and thither away from the line of focus. How good is a torch that cannot center itself to a position and create a clear visual experience! Does it serve the purpose it is intended to fulfill or does it leave us more confused, with multiple images trying to make their way into our sensory memory? Does it empower us!
This analogy can help us to decipher ‘awareness’. For simplified understanding though it does not explain ‘awareness’in entirety, we may infer it as ‘attention’. It is pertinent to understand why ‘awareness’ is even important for anyone.
Human minds generate tens of thousands of thoughts per day and trying to stop them is not only futile, it feeds into more thoughts. Another strong challenge that humans are subjected to are autopilot or automatic thinking and reaction. They refer to the reinforced and learnt ways of thinking and reacting. So when an opportunity presents itself, we continue to think the way we were thinking, we continue to behave the way we were behaving in similar situations, and many a times, without even wanting to think or act in those ways. With human mind being the hub for creation of huge numbers of thoughts and powered by automatic thinking and action, we are given a free ride on our thoughts, memories, narratives, judgments, imagination and myriad emotions! Hence, our attention is scattered like the light from a rolling torch. And need I say, too often, we float on those waves without our realization and free will.
When we take time to reflect on that event or owing to feedback from someone else, we realize that our anger was uncalled for, that we were impulsive, we could have done or said something else, not have sent that mail, could have taken a particular action, we could have been calmer, we need not have attached importance to that thought, if we could have been in higher control of ourselves, the damage could have been averted or that had we not given in to that feeling, it would have taken helpful actions or decisions that could have changed the course of our life itself! What that means is we are not responding and behaving with intention for most part and are deviated from our true calling, our values, our purpose, our authentic feelings and the behavior we want to exhibit. If we are going to allow ourselves to be thrust in whichever direction the inner dynamics of our mind take us, we have lesser control over where our lives go and what they will strike in that course. If a person has not cultivated the practice of paying attention to his inner side, it is quite possible he cannot distinguish between his ‘inside workings’ and ‘him’ and would have assumed that both are one and an inseparable entity. He may desperately wish for fixing himself, but gets into automatic mode of reactions again, without any anchor to guide the way.
Thus we need an anchor to lead life; to help us as a catalyst, a facilitator or a guide in order for us to put our mental and physical energy into things we intentionally want to expend them on. And ‘Awareness’ is that anchor! When we are aware, we observe and build distance from the emotional fog of inside workings and do not get entangled in them. And this distance is what the practice of ‘awareness’helps us cultivate. With ‘awareness’, we become better in centering our mind. Like the torch in stillness, the mind in stillness makes way for calm and clarity. This is the power that is latent, inside of each of us that get strengthened with practice. It is under-rated but if cultivated, it can give us magnanimous power over our feelings, thoughts and behavior.
The more the centering of our awareness, the more is the stillness. The more the stillness, the more is our strength to channelize the direction of thinking. The more this strength, the more is the ability to do what we aspire for. The more the intentional action, the more is the freedom to live intentionally. The more the intentional living and freedom, the more is the life satisfaction. The more the life satisfaction, the happier we are. The happier we are, the healthier we are! The healthier and happier we are, the better is our attitude. And the better our attitude, the better are our relationships. And the effects can encompass all spheres of life and reflect in quantitative and qualitative parameters such as productivity, effectiveness, happiness, life satisfaction, emotional intelligence and health parameters.
A few ways in which Awareness can be practiced are by reflecting on these areas:
- THOUGHTS: What are my thoughts now? —
Example- I have to finish this article quickly, Will my report be accepted by the senior? Is it lunch time yet? Will I show up as confident in the meeting? Am I on track in exam preparation?
2. FEELINGS: How am I feeling now? —
Example- Am I restless/ calm/scared/happy/sad?
3. BODILY SENSATIONS: What are the sensations in my body? —
Example- wrinkle on the forehead, tightness in the jaw, smile on the face, aware of heart beat/faster heart beats, tightness in the stomach, relaxed calf muscles/ache.
4. SENSES: Tuning into the senses- What are the sounds i hear, what can i smell, what is the color of the wall, do i feel warm or cold?
5. POINTS OF CONTACT: Bringing attention of the body to external surfaces. Example, to clothes, to floor, to chair.
Awareness is the antidote to unintentional mind wandering and building presence in the moment. Thus, giving us higher freedom to live life consciously and not be a ping pong ball of situations. When we live moment to moment per our choice, we live a life of our own design. How peaceful and liberating is that!