Fast paced life, filled schedules and tight deadlines are resulting in every day disassociation from our true selves and our actions. The longer we carry on with this, the greater the disassociation. When carrying out our tasks, we are at the same time thinking about our next activity, event or a meeting. We are constantly in a hurry, without taking time to look around and become aware of the present moment in which everything is happening.

What does it mean to live consciously and why is it important?
How can we change our existing patterns of thinking?
Is it possible to be happy all the time?

These are just some questions that I will be answering in the section of Conscious Living. I invite you to join me to read test given advice and share your experiences.  

Living out of habit or automatically is contrary to the idea of conscious living
Do you remember driving your vehicle without even noticing where you were driving? And finally, when you step out of your car, you were unable to recall your journey? This is often happening to many of us and it is a clear example of automatic task performance, which is contrary to the idea of conscious living.

To live consciously means to take responsibility for your life
To live consciously means that you take time for yourself and choose to live a life that you really want to live. This means not going through life at a snail's pace or allowing the stream and everyday obligations to disconnect you from your true needs and feelings. Your level of self-awareness increases when you live consciously, you become more aware of your thoughts, words and actions. You carefully choose what you say and take responsibility for your life.

Are you conscious about your existence?
Try to answer the following statements with yes or no:

1. I do identify with my work and truly enjoy doing it.
2. I spend a lot of quality time with those I love.
3. When talking to people, I do not think about something else.
4. While performing activities (any), I am fully concentrated my thoughts do not escape.
5. I am aware of my body, needs and desires.
6. I do regularly take time for myself and relaxation.

If most of your answers were YES, then you are already living consciously. However, if you do not agree with most of the statements, your actions are mainly automatic and you are allowing yourself to be guided by old patterns learnt.

Being conscious helps you realise your true potential
When living consciously, you know that you always have a choice. Only you have the ability to choose how you will react in a given situation. When you live in the moment, you become more aware of your surroundings, which helps you to understand and change your negative thought patterns and behaviours into positive ones much faster. This awareness of your needs, behaviour and patterns makes it easier to achieve what you really want. You learn faster and are more receptive of your past ups and downs. Automatic responses do not have the power over you – you take control of your mind and become a new person.

As a result, you become more peaceful and compassionate, your relationships are more friendly, your immune system and general well-being improved, at the same time increasing your concentration and performance at work.

How to develop consciousness?
Different masters and teachers have different methods on how to develop consciousness. There are as many options and paths as there are people and there is no right or wrong. All of those techniques are here so that you can find the right one that works for you. The concept of conscious living is a way of life; it is the art of living. This is not something you do once, but a habit that you form in life. To successfully realise this in life you will need: strong willpower, a desire to change and persistence.

Practical Tips for Conscious Living

1. Observe your thoughts
Observe how many times a day during an activity or conversation with someone your thoughts tend to escape to another topic. If you realize this happening, just accept it without judgement and refocus your attention back to your activity or conversation.

2. Walk consciously
While walking, become aware of your breath. You can start counting your breaths and if you like, you can repeat a simple mantra (OM) in your mind, every time you inhale and exhale. Using this mantra will help your thoughts to stop escaping. Moreover, when you notice that your thoughts are running away, try to draw attention back to counting your steps, your breath or repeat a mantra of your liking.

3. Eat consciously
Observe how many times a day you actually pay attention to your meal. Become aware of what you eat and chew well. When you are consciously aware of what kind of food you are going to eat, this helps your inner organs and your body to easier assimilate the intake as well as it improves your digestion.

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