You Can Live A More Conscious Life
“A life lived of choice is a life of conscious action. A life lived of chance is a life of unconscious creation.” — Neale Donald Walsch
To live a more conscious life means to be aware of ourselves at each moment. If we are conscious, we are aware of the present moment and our inner self is awakened. It requires being mindful and feeling the air entering and exiting our lungs. It is being present with our thoughts and emotions. Most people do not live conscious lives in the sense that I am speaking of. They live in their heads with a matrix of thoughts swirling around, and because of this, they miss the gift of “right now”; they don’t experience the fullness of the magnificent present.
For example, have you ever gone on holiday and suddenly your perception of everything seems greater? You smell the fresh air, smile at the lush green trees and gorgeous flowers, and hear the birds singing a song of hope? You feel more alive and happier because you have forgotten about the hundreds of thoughts running around in your mind and are conscious of the beauty of your present surroundings. Those same beautiful surroundings could be in your neighbourhood, but you are focused on other things to notice them; you do not take time to smell your own roses. Consider your answer to the following question: do you rush about your day and miss the simple things in life, such as those I described? What change could you make to live more consciously and notice the smaller details of your life?
The deepest part of who we are, our consciousness or spirit, longs to be experienced. The problem is that it gets covered up by so many layers of negative beliefs and experiences over the years. Childhood wounds, negative feelings, limiting beliefs, etc. pile on year after year and it gets harder and harder to connect with our spirit. To become more conscious requires a peeling away of these layers one by one. To do this requires being mindful or meditating in silence. This is where we discover the true essence of our eternal self.
Becoming More Conscious
“We cannot live pleasantly without living wisely and nobly and righteously.” — Epicurus
Therefore, to live a more conscious life will require us to slow down, get quiet, and allow the painful wounds of the past to surface so we can process them; thus digging down through layers to become in tune with our spirit. As we do, wounds heal and beauty and wholeness arise. It is a beautiful transformation. You might think: “Who wants to go back to childhood and face old wounds?” I understand that sentiment, but it is an important process if you want to live a more conscious life and let go of past conditioning and childhood wounds. Ponder these questions: Are you happy with your life? Do you love who you are? Do you experience shame or pain? Do you know your primary purpose in life? Are your relationships up to par?
If your answers to these questions are not what you’d like them to be, I invite you to take some time to devote to meditating each day. Learn to be present with your thoughts and feelings. Learn to sit in silence and let your mind rest. Even just ten minutes a day will be helpful. There are many ways to meditate, but sit in a comfortable position, take a few deep breaths, and focus on your breath. As you inhale, feel the air moving into your lungs. As you exhale, feel the air leave your body and relax every muscle. All thoughts will fall away when you focus on your breathing. Random thoughts and feelings, such as old wounds, will surface now and then and when they do, acknowledge them and let them go.
Some call this process becoming more conscious or awakening. The more awakened you become, the more peace, joy, and contentment you will feel. You won’t be lying in bed at night letting your thoughts keep you awake or obsessing over things throughout the day. Along with meditation, you can live a more conscious life by being mindful and present throughout the day. Considering this, I invite you to be mindful of your thought-life and if thoughts must be there, be sure they are empowering and enriching. Be mindful of your surroundings. Observe the sunrise and sunset each day. Notice new things in your surrounds instead of rushing about your day. Sit outside and breathe the aroma of nature. Become aware of inhaling and exhaling. Feel the core of your being alive and well. Get to the root of who you are. You are much more than flesh and bones. Make it your intention to live a more conscious life and as you do, you will discover what a magnificent being you are.
