Are we just watching our life happen like watching a scripted TV, or are we really living the experience and taking it all with every breath?
Life and Awareness
Our life is more than an everyday routine on repeat, its really a dance of possibility, pattern, and beauty all around us, all the time. We need to pause, and consider, and take it all in when we have a chance.
You must have noticed this sometimes, when we eat something and know at a surface feeling that it was good or bad but we don’t really know, like indulging in some pizza while watching a TV series.
We didn’t really savor the taste of the pizza, as we were watching the TV show, and guess what, we didn’t really grasp the entire TV, as we were eating the pizza. We know both were good in a way but we can’t put a finger on how it felt like. Sometimes its fun to be lost like that, but we can’t make that our way of life.
When we are being mindful and present with the activity, we access the ability or the skill of focus, and observe an extra awareness, helping us grasp more of the present. And feel more alive.
An Illustration:
Take a deep breath, and imagine you are eating a piece of Dark Chocolate.
You take a small bite. Notice the bite, its texture, its softness, the composition of the bitter parts along with the essence of the sweetness, the feeling of the taste swirling in the mouth as it slowly melts away, the fact that this very piece chocolate has come a long way, from far away places only to make us feel better and comforted.
On being mindful, a lot of our experiences can be enhanced, we start appreciating everything in life, a walk in the nature, a presence of friend, times of peace, also the times of hard work and pain. We feel more alive and tend to see more of life.
This mindfulness can be practiced and learned.
We start the practice by being aware of our breath, and resting our attention on it, and it doesn’t matter if our mind drifts away, we just bring the attention back to the sensation of the breath. We follow the breath in and the breath out. This has to be practiced quite a bit, firstly without distraction, and can be done in noisier areas later on.
On getting a grasp on the idea and the technique, it can be extended to everything in life. Eating, playing, watching a movie, having a conversation with someone, reading a book or a beautiful poetry.
Being aware also helps us see our actions, and where they lead us, and help us to see why we do what we do and where we can improve.
Find and pursue the moments that make you feel alive.
Feeling alive is the most important thing as a human, apart from being alive.
Find out what moves you and what you enjoy, an experience you could breathe and live, without much of any external motive.
Some people like to sing or draw or cook or fight. Most people enjoy traveling and seeking novelty as a source of feeling alive.
I personally enjoy adventure sports and traveling as something that makes me feel alive. Also, working out, reading books, and meditation gives me a great sense of being in my mind and my body.
Personal Experience
By pursuing mindfulness, I have gained a greater sense of calm and have been able to control my reactive nature to a good degree. I used to be very reactive and would argue over petty issues, only to realize the pointlessness of it. Now, I pause, and listen to the argument, and try to proceed without making the other individual threatened, also, I take care that I don’t take what they say too seriously that would hurt me.
I try to see things in the positive light, being mindful and aware of my position and their perspective. I thank for their being and understand their suggestions, especially during conversations with close friends and family.
Takeaways
We have only one chance at life, in pursuing the secondary things that our culture says are good, lets not forget the primary thing, life itself. Be aware, be mindful, be conscious.
Don’t just be. Be Alive.
Ujjawal Sureka
A Student of life.
PS: If this post resonated with you, let me know in the comments, also share if you think it will be useful to others. Thank you, and have a great day.
All the images in this post are a courtesy of Pexels.com
What a time to practise mindfulness!
In the midst of chaos, protests, virus outbreak and natural disasters, mind will take a major hit – mindfulness seems like the only medicine.
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That’s very much true Drone. Our minds take a major hit, being aware and mindful and appreciative of what we have can be of great help! Thanks for the comment, much appreciated! π
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So interesting to come across this after someone was just telling me of mindfulness. The power of the moment! Such a wonderful thing to harness. All we have is now!
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Yes, I think its been more in talk because of the difficult times. Indeed, you are right, all we have is now! π
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A valid lesson.
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Thanks a lot Manu π
Have a great day!
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Be aware, be mindful, be conscious.
Donβt just be. Be Alive.
Best advice Iβve read here this week. The very best. π―
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Thanks a lot Kendi! π
Its makes me happy that you feel that way! Keep spreading the joy!
Have a great day! Stay safe π
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Mindfulness is fundamental to happiness. Thank you, Ujjawal, for the well-written and very eloquent reminder.
Cheryl
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Thanks a lot Cheryl! π Yes, I have come to understand that in recent times. I appreciate your thoughts on this.
Stay safe, and have a great day! π
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So true. I have been practicing mindfulness since the lockdown started. It is very helpful and I wish I would have known about this earlier. But your posts will definitely help other people like me who don’t are unaware of this. Very well written and another great post.
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Ohh, thanks a lot, I am sure this idea adds to life. I hope that it adds value to your life as well. I appreciate your kind words, thanks again! ππ
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You are right, being aware and sensitive to all around us is the best way to live!
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Thank you Sir, Yes, I do believe so, it does add to our lives.
Have a great day. π
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thank you. You too!
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Excellent post. It is an important part of being aware of the world around you and helpful in these stressful times. π
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Thanks a lot Jane π
I am sure you have experienced it plenty during your photography sessions, being aware of the scene and the life in and around it.
I hope you have a good rest of the day, stay safe π
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Love this!! All your posts just speak to me! Haha
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Haha, that is amazing ππ―
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“Feeling alive is the most important thing as a human, apart from being alive” I recently realised that I operate in autopilot most of the time and I am working on becoming more present. I related so much with this. Thank you!
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That is the case with most of us, I too do that. Yeah, it takes a lot of conscious effort and awareness to come out of it. I hope we can experience being alive more often than not.
Thank you for the encouraging words π
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