A Gift and a Curse
The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival. – Aristotle
It is morning – the alarm goes off, you roll out of bed and shuffle along to start your day. But are you really awake? If you are like most of us, you resume autopilot mode as soon as your feet hit the floor. Following your routine – for meals, exercise, work, sleep and even how you deal with stress – is easy because you don’t have to think about it. But is this mechanical survival mode really a good thing?
This autopilot mode of living is like going through life with blinders on. We only see what is right in front of us (our ingrained habits), but we miss the rest of our surroundings including how we got here and what is around the corner. This unawareness can lead to mindless eating, negative thoughts, lackluster results in the gym, and losing touch with your appetite, desires and happiness. It’s time to wake up!
Awareness removes those blinders and gives you the gift of sight. You are able to open your eyes, check your surroundings and actually choose which path to take. Ironically, awareness can also be a curse, and an overwhelming one at that. Vision does not mean insight. Many times this new sense of your environment can also bring confusion, fear, anxiety and hopelessness. You finally see which habits are sabotaging your efforts, but you have no idea why you do them and how to change!
Like a newborn getting his first taste of the world, opening your eyes can be painful and scary at first. But, it is when you work through the scary parts that you realize the true gift that awareness brings.
Use the tips below to find the rose through the thorns:
Notice. The first part of awareness is noticing your habits and feelings in that moment. Are you stressed and reaching for ice cream? Is it 3:00pm and you’re bored/tired and craving chocolate from the office communal bowl? Becoming aware of patterns is the first step.
Name. This step is just about defining your habits. When I am stressed I reach for potato chips. When I am with certain friends I drink more. Naming the habit and what triggers it enhances your awareness.
Recognize. Once you have a quick understanding of some of your habits, the next tip is recognizing when the habit may present itself again. Some are easy – every weekday at 3:00pm I go to the office chocolate stash. Some are not so easy to recognize – when I don’t feel in control my diet becomes out of control as well. The more practice you have, the easier it is to recognize negative habits before you start working against your goals.
Strategize. Once you understand what triggers a behavior you want to change, start thinking about other healthy habits that can replace your reaction. Instead of reaching for that slice of pizza every time you’re out with friends, order a salad, eat beforehand or offer up a healthier option for dinner.
Forgive. Everything in life is a practice. Don’t beat yourself up for strategizing and not following through. Did you still reach for that chocolate bowl? Awareness is never 100% from the start. In fact, nothing is. Each time you don’t reach for that chocolate you have reached success. Avoid the all-or-nothing mindset, instead work towards being at least 1% better with your options every day. It adds up, I guarantee.
If you notice, name, recognize, strategize and forgive, your awareness and life choices will continue to enhance your life!