If you’ve been following me for some time now you know that I am BIG on awareness and self-awareness. While they may sound synonymous, they’re slightly different. General awareness is all about being aware of our surroundings. It’s also the key factor of being conscious of our existence. You can be aware that you’re alive, hurting, the food you’re eating and what other people are doing.
However, self-awareness is having a high level of all things pertaining to yourself. Meaning, being self-aware of your thoughts, your vibe, your habits and behavior patterns, etc. To go even deeper, those who have a strong sense of self-awareness are extremely privy to how all of the said above plays a role in creating their life’s circumstances.
For the sake of this article we’ll be focusing more on building your general awareness. Having an expanded consciousness of life is super beneficial. You are better able to catch the subtleties that many other people may overlook or never even notice at all! You also feel more in tune and connected to everything around you thanks to your new ability to see, feel and hear things that would’ve normally been out of your range of awareness. Even more important, once you increase your awareness, your self-awareness will naturally begin to increase as well.
Related article: Three Ways to Embody Your God Consciousness
Below are five playful ways to increase your awareness:
Sounds
This can be from music, things you hear around your house and even outside. But to start out, let’s use music as your muse. Usually there are multiple sounds going on at one time. This makes music a great starting ground to learn how to focus your hearing. Play one of your favorite songs and focus your attention on the subtlest sound you can find. When you do this, you’ll notice that that subtle sound will actually become louder. You will find yourself saying “wow I never even noticed that sound before!” That, my friend is the power of increasing your awareness. But don’t stop there, go back to the same song and single out other sounds and adlibs. Then move on to do the same with other songs. You’ll be amazed at what you hear that you didn’t hear before!
Television
If you’re going to watch tv, you might as well turn it into a fun activity to boost your level of awareness. While watching your tv show, pay attention to what’s going on in the background. Don’t focus on the obvious that’s right in front of your face. You can also acutely tune in to what the person is wearing. Scan over the details of their shirt or hair. Pay attention to their facial expression. Allow these things to be your only focal point. This helps to expand your visual awareness. Being able to see things that you probably wouldn’t have caught with your naked eye.
Reading
This is another great way to evolve your consciousness. Of course, the obvious way is the opportunity to learn new information. But we want more than the obvious. We want the subtlety. So, while you’re reading, read slowly. When a word or sentence jumps out at you, don’t just brush over it and keep reading. Pause. Let the word or sentence float around in your head for a bit. See what other epiphanies come to mind because of it. Take your time to read between the lines and see if there are any other interpretations that can be taken from what the author said. Also, if you come across a word you don’t know. Look it up. Don’t continue to read without clarity. Allow your mind to expand. This exercise is highly beneficial for boosting your cognitive awareness.
Pictures and Nature
This is equivalent to watching television. When you see a picture you like, zoom into it. Pay attention to its details. While you’re out in nature, look closely at the flowers, grass and trees. Make only one of these your center of attention. Notice the pattern of the flower. Even more, take a moment to notice the smallest part of the flower. Take some time and focus on the tree bark. Feel its texture. Again, pay close attention to the lines and patterns of the tree. I promise you will have a new sense of appreciation for Mother Nature and her intelligence.
Food
Anyone who really knows me know that this is one of my faves. Most people just shove their food down their throat without ever truly tasting it. But you can also use this time to become more aware. While chewing your food, tune in to see if you can pinpoint different flavors and seasonings. This works even better if you close your eyes while you do it. I don’t know the full science behind it, but your senses definitely enhance when you close your eyes. You can hear, feel, and smell more clearly.
So, can you taste a hint of garlic? Did the honey just become sweeter in your mouth? The more you chew did you notice that your food took on more of a smokey flavor?
To get the most out of this activity, smell your food before you eat it. Let the aroma overtake you. What can you sense is in your food before even biting it?
As you can see, you can take any mundane daily activity and turn it into a fun way to increase your awareness and expand your consciousness. I would love to hear what other creative ways you have used to ramp up your awareness. Be sure to leave a comment below!
