9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Consciousness is no easy task...

by SilentX
8 replies
I've noticed recently, when I am working and trying to remain conscious of myself in the moment, that I feel much more mentally exhausted at the end of the day. It is truly an exercise in mental capacities to keep your mind present for as long a period as possible, and to repeat this process over and over throughout the day (because inevitably your mind breaks from pure consciousness; otherwise you'd be enlightened...). Don't get me wrong, it feels wonderful to be exhausted in this fashion, but sleep becomes a lot more welcoming at the end of a full day. Does this seem to happen to anyone else? Perhaps I could be exercising consciousness in a less mentally taxing way. Who knows... Do you?
#consciousness #easy #task
  • Profile picture of the author Aronya
    I don't know if there's an easier way to do it, but I agree. It's taxing to be in the moment at every moment. I think it's because the world around us demands our attention, too. It's kind of like trying to read a book while you watch television. Very difficult to be fully aware of both at the same time.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2056034].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SilentX
      Originally Posted by Aronya View Post

      It's kind of like trying to read a book while you watch television.
      Hmm.. I don't want to sound argumentative, but I'm not if I agree with this analogy. The idea is to be aware of your surroundings and your task at hand, in the moment. The whole point is to avoid being aware of two things at once. I understand where you're coming from, that your job or whatever may depend on you planning out the immediate future, but this can also be done consciously. I think it is more like your emotional self distracting you from being present-moment conscious. Maybe more like, an annoying little brother/sister, or a pestering child trying to grab your attention while you are doing something else. The untrained mind (and mine is definitely not well trained) feels compelled to entertain the distractions. That's my feeling, anyways. What do you think Aronya?
      Signature
      Dozens of Free Marketing Tools at Your Fingertips - Devoted Internet Marketer
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2056417].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Aronya
        Originally Posted by SilentX View Post

        Hmm.. I don't want to sound argumentative, but I'm not if I agree with this analogy. The idea is to be aware of your surroundings and your task at hand, in the moment. The whole point is to avoid being aware of two things at once.
        If your goal is to be only aware of one thing at any one time - as in your self or your surroundings, you will have a difficult time going about your day. All of the little chores of our lives demand our attention at some level.
        Maybe more like, an annoying little brother/sister, or a pestering child trying to grab your attention while you are doing something else. The untrained mind (and mine is definitely not well trained) feels compelled to entertain the distractions.
        I don't really see the difference in the analogies. How about this one: Trying to ignore a ringing telephone while you eat dinner. I'm sure someone will jump in here & claim they do it all the time, but for normal human beings it's just about impossible. We're just too well programmed to answer the phone when it rings. So, the exercise is to try to focus on your meal without letting the incessant ringing, ringing, ringing of the phone undermine the pleasure of the dining experience.
        I understand where you're coming from, that your job or whatever may depend on you planning out the immediate future, but this can also be done consciously. I think it is more like your emotional self distracting you from being present-moment conscious. That's my feeling, anyways. What do you think Aronya?
        To be honest, you lost me completely here, both with the planning the future comment, and with the reference to the emotional self.

        I've noticed recently, when I am working and trying to remain conscious of myself in the moment
        This is basically what my comments were addressing. Most of us bump thru our days, largely ignorant of our conscious selves. We don't live in the moment. Our minds spend lots of time wandering, even when we might think we are focused on a task. Due to many many years of conditioning, this is our normal state. But, enlightenment requires that we change our focus from what is without, to what is within. On the other hand, it is impossible to be completely inwardly focused without entering a trance (I know some people drive in that state, but...). Unless you are a hermit in a cave somewhere, living in a trance state isn't going to work out very well. At some point, you've got to get up, take a shower and go to work. The consequence is that we try to strike a balance between the two worlds, but it's hard work. We're already very deeply programmed to ignore the inner in favor of the outer, and changing that takes effort, which leads to fatigue, which brings us to your original post.

        That's my 2cts' worth, anyway!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2056846].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author SilentX
    If your goal is to be only aware of one thing at any one time - as in your self or your surroundings, you will have a difficult time going about your day. All of the little chores of our lives demand our attention at some level.
    I think you cleared up what you meant here when you added:

    But, enlightenment requires that we change our focus from what is without, to what is within. On the other hand, it is impossible to be completely inwardly focused without entering a trance (I know some people drive in that state, but...).
    What I'm trying to get at isn't solely the inward focused mind set. What I mean is more of a practical aspect of present-moment consciousness. Waking up, taking a shower, eating breakfast, driving to work, working, eating lunch, going home, taking care of your kids, etc. These are all things taht can be accomplished with a present-moment consciousness. All it means is simply doing each of these things as they are happening and not focusing on other concerns, worries, regrets, etc.

    Your phone ringing analogy is exactly what I mean. I know my analogy earlier was barely different from your first analogy. I wasn't trying to nit pick. I only noticed a slight difference, that I may not have explained properly. Let me try again (but forgive me if my writing isn't eloquent enough): The television vs. reading analogy implies that you are choosing to do two things at once, whereas the ringing phone analogy implies that you are being impeded by a difficult to ignore, outside circumstance, that hindering your ability to be present-moment conscious. Does that make any sense?

    Btw, I'm really enjoying this convo
    Signature
    Dozens of Free Marketing Tools at Your Fingertips - Devoted Internet Marketer
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2056883].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Aronya
      The television vs. reading analogy implies that you are choosing to do two things at once, whereas the ringing phone analogy implies that you are being impeded by a difficult to ignore, outside circumstance, that hindering your ability to be present-moment conscious. Does that make any sense?
      I think we're on the same page with this. I meant the same thing with the TV analogy, but I can see how it might not be as clear as the phone one. Think of the TV as the ever-present, always-on, always-demanding-your-attention outside world. The book is your inner world, where you're trying to focus your attention. For most of us, if we don't find a way to get away from or turn off the TV, or at least turn down the volume, focusing on that book is going to be a real chore.
      Waking up, taking a shower, eating breakfast, driving to work, working, eating lunch, going home, taking care of your kids, etc. These are all things taht can be accomplished with a present-moment consciousness. All it means is simply doing each of these things as they are happening and not focusing on other concerns, worries, regrets, etc.
      Exactly. Just substitute the book, or eating dinner, for taking a shower, eating breakfast, etc. We do a lot of things like that every day without being conscious of what we're doing. Instead, we're thinking about where we put our wallet, or what time is the babysitter coming, while we brush our teeth. I know I've actually stepped out of the shower & started to dry off without rinsing the conditioner out of my hair.

      Btw, I'm really enjoying this convo
      Me too. Good post.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2057071].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AwesomePossum
    Yeah dude...

    I mean...I have a lot of things I focus on and my number one area of focus is....well I've got 3 lol

    1. To stick with my daily routine until I make it habit...
    2. Choice
    3. Presence...consciousness.

    I chose to stick to my daily routine till it's completely ingrained at a subconscious level...I don't care if it takes a year or 3. It's important for me to stick with my one concept until I get it right.

    Soo what I did was I implemented presence into my routine...morning & day...next comes night...

    But I'm doing it one by one.

    I've been messing with this enough to say...I get out of wack when I don't practice presence theses days...is that a good thing? uhhh....yeah. I notice that just the exercises give me more and more presence throughout the day.

    Just remember this happens gradually so don't rush...but every day we do it, we get better...and once we do it for a while we feel like **** when we skip out on it....there's a tipping point and I'm thinking you're very close to passing it so keep it up : )

    Like you said...when we try to expand ourselves we use up our VERY limited will power...the thing about will power is we have to stay focused on one goal until it's complete...no matter how many problems the new awareness identifies they completely dissapear when you try to fix them...wait till this is subconscious before you ever move to anything else...trust me...awareness and presence is sooooo worth it.

    I'll be straight with you...I found the girl of my dreams...I feel more alive, the little things actually matter bro....they actually impact...just the food I eat sometimes makes an impact. I love to go outside...and people treat me completely different...more friendly, more open, happy, respectful, and even protected...

    Keep it up dude...hey what's you name btw?

    Hope this helped...

    Aaryn
    Signature
    ONLY 100 COPIES LEFT!! The $1,000,000 Secret:
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2057981].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DrSnake
      Gurdjieff, Zen and various other traditions teach the idea of being "awake" in the moment, not hypnotized by perpetual daydreams. The fact is, it is incredibly hard to do this. You can do it for a while, then hours later you "wake up"...

      One thing I will say is, if you also read NLP co-founder Richard Bandler, you'll find he has no time for this "stopping thinking" (internal dialog). He simply accepts and uses trance.

      Possibly, the best plan is to consciously allocate daydreaming/trance time. Split up "in the moment" consciouses and mix it with trance time.

      That way, you would have a balance and may not feel quite so "exhausted."
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2058816].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author naruq
        To Develop a Success and Prosperity Consciousness you have to work on your mind daily. I agree with you Consciousness is not easy.
        Signature

        Please do not use affiliate links in signatures

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2059565].message }}

Trending Topics