|
 Cultivating
Mental and Emotional Awareness
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be…” - Jesus
“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” - Marcus Aurelius
Clear awareness is of paramount importance because, as the opening quotes indicate, it attracts what comes into our life. This chapter addresses the mind component of the body/mind/soul triad, the mental and emotional aspects of well being.
Synonyms for awareness include: alertness, aliveness, appreciation, attentiveness, consciousness, discernment, enlightenment, experience, mindfulness, perception, realization, and understanding.
Are those attributes you want more of in your life?
We each have an inner wisdom that knows what to do. This innate intelligence can make the best decisions to keep us healthy and happy. Being in touch with your inner awareness is a major key to enjoying radiant living.
The goal of any wise physician is to improve a person’s awareness. Then the patient doesn’t have to be told how to eat, exercise, rest, and so on. The person’s inner wisdom knows how to live.
How can you increase your awareness? There are several aspects to this one so please be patient as I cover the bases.
First and foremost, though, make improving your awareness a high priority. You’ve heard it said, “When you die, you can’t take it with you.” Your level of consciousness is one exception to this rule. Thus, wise people take time to cultivate clear mindfulness.
Perspective
Every day is a new opportunity for service, adventure, growth and enjoyment. Viewing life with this perspective helps you appreciate every precious moment.
As you journey down life’s path, focus on the big picture and look past trivial or temporary obstacles. Strive for an enlightened perspective like Winston Churchill’s who had inscribed on his tomb, “And this too shall pass.”
Ancient Chinese and Egyptian symbols depicted crisis and opportunity as two sides of the same coin. Developing a positive perspective allows you to grow and learn from all life’s experiences—even the “bad” events in life. The challenge is to find the blessings in each moment.
As Napoleon Hill stated, “Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.”
Remember, you always have the power to choose your outlook. It’s the old partial glass of water question: it’s half full to the optimist and half empty to the pessimist. Focus on what you want—not what you don’t want since you become what you most fervently think about.
Which way do you look at life? John Milton said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.” How you think literally creates the world you live in. A positive perspective is a powerful ally for every aspect of your life.
For example, research has documented the power of optimism in treating and preventing disease. Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune disorders, and immune levels have responded favorably to laughter, group therapy, visual imagery, a zest for life, and a positive mental attitude.
Read Radiant
Wellness by Dr. Mark Pitstick to learn
effective ways to enjoy
the many benefits of greater awareness.
|
