January 24 – How Awareness Has Changed

“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to make today worth remembering.” Meredith Wilson, The Music Man

Human awareness has undergone significant transformations throughout history, adapting to the evolving social, technological, and cultural landscape. As people migrated from villages and farms to cities, the sociologist Georg Simmel observed the phenomenon of "urban overload," where individuals encountered a vast number of people, making it impossible to remember personal details about everyone. This led to a tendency to keep human interactions superficial in order to conserve mental energy.

Additionally, the advent of technology, such as computers and smartphones, has added information overload and constant pressure to respond to others, further dividing our attention and contributing to a sense of overwhelm. However, it is important to recognize that not all changes have been inherently harmful or negative. The key question to address is finding the balance between the ways in which we help ourselves and the ways in which we may be hurting ourselves.

In understanding how awareness shapes our experiences, Rick Hansen points out in Resilient that our nervous system is designed to be changed by what we pay attention to. Our attention determines the person we gradually become, emphasizing the importance of mindful attention and consciously choosing where we place it.

To improve our awareness and meet our basic needs for safety, satisfaction, and connection, we must cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and attentiveness to our surroundings. This can help us respond to challenging conditions from a place of peace, contentment, and love, rather than reacting from fear, frustration, and hurt.

Awareness plays a crucial role in guiding our minds and relating to our experiences.

John O'Leary emphasizes in his book, In Awe, the importance of consciously choosing where we place our attention, as living in awe requires focused awareness. Without conscious direction, our experiences can disintegrate into chaos.

To enhance and improve our awareness, we can explore various practices and techniques. In Do Nothing, Celeste Headlee’s suggestions include cultivating mindfulness as a daily habit, engaging in activities that promote focused attention, setting boundaries with technology to reduce information overload, and creating space for introspection and self-reflection. By consciously directing our attention and nurturing our awareness, we can navigate the changing landscape and harness the power of our evolving consciousness to lead more fulfilling lives.

Awareness is not a set state but a skill that can be honed and developed over time. Through conscious effort and practice, we can expand our capacity for awareness, enabling us to live more fully, connect deeply with ourselves and others, and find a sense of balance and fulfillment amidst the ever-changing world around us.

Adventure: Nature Walk or Hike

Take a leisurely stroll or go for a hike in nature. Engage all your senses and notice the sounds, smells, textures, and colors around you. Use this time to reflect on your thoughts and emotions, connecting with yourself and the environment.