Tips for Living More Consciously

When you choose to be fully aware and honest with yourself about what it is that creates joy and a sense of inner fulfillment (and I don't mean material goods, power, or status), then it becomes easier to make the commitment to yourself to live consciously. For example, choosing to pursue a career in music because that is what you are most passionate about - even when others expected you to go to medical school. The main thing is that you know what you need to be happy and you are making the commitment to take the necessary steps to create that happiness.

Sound easy? It's not.

When you make a choice to look at your unhappiness and acknowledge that living in an emotionally abusive and loveless relationship is no longer acceptable or when you recognize that constantly worrying about finances makes it impossible to enjoy time with your family and loved ones, you face a decision about changing who you are or how you are living your life.

Not surprisingly, consciousness is directly related to self-esteem. The greater our self-esteem - or the way in which we think about, feel and see ourselves - the more likely that we can take an honest look at who we are.

When we learn how to cultivate awareness appropriate to our actions and to become far more observant and reflective of our self, we feel a greater sense of personal fulfillment and integrity. The greater our self-esteem, the more likely we are to want to improve the quality of our lives. And we improve our lives by becoming consciously aware of what exactly is happening in them.

Do any of us ever master the ability to live fully conscious 100 per cent of the time? Probably not. Nor do we need to try for that. If we can make an effort to self-observe and be self-aware in how we respond in the world, then we will have begun to live our lives awake and with renewed purpose.

Some suggestions for getting started in your own personal practice of living consciously:

• Take a moment at the beginning of each day, to simply bring your attention into the present. Ask yourself what you need from today in order to feel happy. Notice what comes up for you.
• Practice being conscious of your inner thoughts. Notice how your thoughts (those things you say to yourself), create your feelings. Pay attention to your thoughts, particularly when you are feeling strong negative emotions, to understand where your moods come from.
• Spend at least five minutes each day reflecting on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Practicing self-reflection allows you to become more aware of who you are and who you may wish to become.
• When you are in the midst of doing simple, repetitive tasks - such as washing the dishes, driving your car or preparing dinner - make a conscious effort to focus totally on the moment at hand and nothing else. Notice how your experience becomes richer and more meaningful.
• Make an effort to deal with a minor issue or problem in either your personal or work life. By forcing yourself to look at a problem, rather than avoid it, you are living consciously.