Awareness is the key to all things. It takes you noticing the past or current parts of self in order to understand or make change. Becoming aware of your mindset is life changing. If you notice your thoughts, their patterns, and what triggers those thoughts, you can take back your power.
Why is awareness so important? Becoming aware means you have power in the now. Being in the now means you are being fully present in the moment and being present grounds your body to what’s in this moment rather than in your head. Mindfulness begins with being present within your body and mind as being mindful brings awareness. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing.
Let’s look at all the ways you can build a stronger awareness…
1) There are two tools that are a perfect duo to support you in reaching awareness: reflection and reframing.
Reflection is ability to look back at what happened and see what was done so you can learn or do better the next time
Reframing is the same as switching out the lens on a camera, you are choosing to view your life from a different point of view then following through with a new action supporting the new view.
Reflection is to be aware and reframing is the action behind the newfound awareness. Both reflection and reframing create a balance within that is not present for those who are unconscious. Consciousness is the connection and awareness of mind and body. Your feelings are the reactions to all you encounter and it is your conscious mind’s job to decide how to react. My anxiety and depression are a reaction to fear and identifying that as part of my personality made me more anxious and depressed, as I was choosing fear over love by giving myself that label. Becoming aware that I am not my mental disorder and that is just another added layer to my human experience made me not define myself as the mental illness.
2) Solo reflection may be hard for some people, that is why journaling is so helpful. If writing isn't your thing, then try speaking out loud to recording yourself so you can play it back but I still encourage you to try writing. Journaling is physically writing down thoughts on your own or by following a prompt. It draws out your thoughts from the deepest parts you may have not been aware of yet. It takes a consistent flow of writing for you to connect to your subconscious and allow the judgment to leave. Try setting a timer when free writing.
Here are some journaling tips:
Practicing gratitude will support you further in reflecting in a positive light if you are seeing things through a darker lens. Here are some tips with practicing gratitude: Ask yourself questions to slow down your autopilot actions. Add gratitude work daily as in journaling gratitude, gratitude jar, or speaking out loud what you are grateful for each morning and night.
Use prompts to help you dig inward. Ask yourself the powerful questions like:
What tool or technique would support you? Manage yourself by picking what tools will or will not work for you, making them more of your own.
What tool or technique is missing? Get creative and think of other things that will ground you.
What is something you have not tried yet? Do not stick to the things you know. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new.
3) Another tool, which is a common one with awareness and mindfulness, is meditation. Meditation means to focus awareness and train your attention on a thought, action, or object to bring yourself to a calming state.
Here are some examples:
Sitting in silence and allowing thoughts to flow freely, yoga, or watching a candle.
Meditation has changed over time to be anything when you are in a flow state with yourself: walking/exercising, journaling, or other “light” activities.
Meditation is an experience in stillness. There are many apps, classes, and courses with this practice now. As time goes on, meditation has adapted to be more than sitting crisscross applesauce like they do in the movies. Meditation is anything you do while in a state of mindfulness and awareness.
To end with after learning all these tools that support awareness and mindfulness, I have to tell you to trust yourself. The inner knowing or feeling that something is/isn’t right is your intuition. Lean into your intuition and trust that it is always guiding you to your highest self. Your intuition is the internal compass that is always guiding you where you are supposed to go, whether or not you are aware of it. It speaks in silent nudges of signs in your body. It speaks as the Universe responds by giving further signs from the world and bringing things into your path to show you a lesson. The connection of mind, body, and spirit doesn’t end with you. You are the beginning of an infinite number of connections happening all around you. Conscious awareness is all you need to step closer to self-connection.
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