May 29 2008
Becoming Aware
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Do you ever feel like you move through life as if you’re in a fog–like you’re not fully aware of what’s going on around you? Or maybe you feel like life comes at you too quickly to stop and savor the moment? Perhaps you’ve noticed that you have tunnel vision (you only see and experience what is of immediate interest to you) or that you tend to tune out your surroundings when you get stressed. I experience one or more of these feelings every day. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not really living my life.
I just celebrated a big birthday (I’m now a thirtysomething!), and it heightened my sense of time passing. I want to fully experience my next thirty years, to live in the now and experience each moment as it happens. I’ve been thinking about strategies for developing awareness and encouraging myself to experience life consicously and to really be in the present. Here’s what I came up with:
- Engage in regular meditation. As a “do-er”, this is something I have a very hard time convincing myself to make time for. But meditation is very important–it’s a way to slow the mind, to become aware of your thoughts, to learn to appreciate stillness and quiet. Isn’t sitting with myself for just 10 minutes a day as important as catching reruns of CSI?
- Have a moment of silence. If you (like me) have trouble getting yourself meditate, try observing a moment of silence–even if it’s just thirty seconds–several times per day. Just sit quietly, notice your thoughts as they arise, and then release them. You could build this into your schedule in any number of ways–immediately upon waking, just before bed, at mealtimes, during your shower, etc.
- Practice conscious eating. I’m half-awake for breakfast. I typically choke down lunch while taking phone calls and returning emails. I eat dinner while watching TV or surfing the Net. I want to start truly experiencing my meals. I’m going to make a point of eating slowly, paying attention to the texture and flavor of my food, observing my body (am I still hungry?), and savoring the whole experience.
- Engage your senses. Whenever it occurs to you, stop and take an inventory of your senses. What do you see? Hear? Taste? Smell? Feel against your skin? This is a very simple but effective way to heighten your awareness.
- Trigger yourself. Create a list of “triggers” that will remind you to focus on the now. Every time you hit a traffic light, you stop and have a moment of silence. Or every time you notice the color yellow, you take an inventory of your senses. I love this idea!
Do you have any other tricks for focusing on the present?
I have learned it is best not to multi task but to do one thing at a time with attention to it and nothing else. When I was younger, I thought I could multi task but I wonder now if I really accomplish as much as I thought I did. More importantly did I enjoy the ride?
Im really working to fit in meditation every day (Hi Eliz Gilbert! You inspire me!!)——and if not I don my Be Present tank top as a “Im having a busy day but this is my reminder” touchstone.
This is something I really struggle with- there are weekend days that I have spent on the couch making lists of all the things I want to do with my weekend. Around 4pm, I look up and realize that I’ve just wasted half of my weekend planning it out! I’ve started relying less on lists and doing more of walking around the house and just doing what obviously needs to be done.
I like the tank top idea. I might have to put some soothing words on a shirt, mahself!
Um, I do my daily or weekly mantra. It is usually something that I do to bring myself into the present and keep myself there.
So, I guess having a mantra is like a form of meditation for me.
Yes, in our fast paced (technology driven) world it must be a conscious effort ’slow down.’ Personally, it seems like there is always something to be done, always someone waiting for something from me or any other number of things. I have a hard time getting those quiet moments for meditation however I’ve noticed that it is easier to block out stuff and steal a moment when I take a shower or on my drive to work (which is only a few minutes away) or when I just take a moment to get up and away from my desk and find a quiet spot outside to enjoy the fresh air. I’m not a smoker, so I don’t get ’smoke breaks’ but why not take a ‘relax’ break??
~K
I think you summed up so much of what’s going on in life - either it’s flashing by or it’s in a fog. With being engaged, so many people are asking about plans. I felt as though I was being pulled and pushed to make arrangements and then stressed to find out information.
Greg had the better idea and I think it makes sense. He seemed to handled it by saying - one thing at a time. It’s good to enjoy being engaged, let’s do that for now.
It’s the “slow down and savor” the moment. Thanks for reinforcing the emotion with your post!
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