Being aware expands your freedom.
When you become aware, you have the freedom to see what is around you as well as the opportunities that await you.
Becoming aware can be learnt. There are so many different aspects and exercises for developing awareness.
Let us start with a simple breathing exercise.
Sit comfortably and breathe normally.
Become aware of your breathing. Is it shallow or deep or somewhere in between?
Spend a minute or two being aware of your breathing.
Now try breathing a little more shallowly and be aware of the changes you feel. If it is uncomfortable, then return to your normal breathing immediately, otherwise try it for about a minute.
Next try breathing more deeply and be aware of the changes you feel. Again, if you feel uncomfortable in any way, return to your normal breathing immediately, otherwise try it for about a minute.
Now, if you are able to, get up and walk around the room for a minute or two.
Become aware of how your breathing changes.
When we exert ourselves physically or emotionally, our breathing changes.
Now that you are aware of your breathing, begin to notice how it changes when your feelings run high. What happens to your breathing?
If you are conversing with someone and a difficult topic is brought up, what happens to your breathing?
By becoming aware of how your breathing changes gives you the freedom to see what is going on and make appropriate choices for your actions and responses.
Becoming aware of the changes in your breathing which happen unconsciously when circumstances change can be really useful in developing your freedom of choice.
