AWARENESS – Work in progress (April 16, 2026)
But how do we become aware? With practice, we cultivate waking up and becoming aware more often. We’re more able to recognize the moment that we start being swept away by our thoughts.
You may be deep in thought, deep in rumination. You may be anxious, thinking about something that may or may not happen in the future. You may be comparing or judging. Then, all of a sudden, you notice that one or both shoulders are raised. You may notice some neck discomfort. That bodily awareness can trigger awareness of your mind and your thoughts. Anxiety will have no choice, but to slightly abate.
What is the spark that triggers waking up? Why does it happen when it happens? What triggers awareness? Sometimes a simple movement can break us out of our spell. Sometimes it’s a sight or a sound that wakes us up. We can then shift our attention more towards the body side of the mind/body continuum, returning to the present moment. Now we have more intentionality.
F.M. Alexander famously said, when talking about his directions, “All together, one after the other”. Since there are countless directions, the “all together” part is crucial. If you think about ALL the directions before you stand up to make a sandwich, you’ll go hungry.
As part of “all together”, let’s include our habits of thought along with more physical aspects of the directions. Let go of gripping what we want, and pushing away what we don’t want. Preferences and goals are fine, but obsessive behavior benefits no one.
As you let go of gripping obsessive thoughts, let go of gripping in your neck and jaw. Let go of the muscles in the corners of your eyes and your mouth. Use your senses to return to the present moment and notice as those unhelpful thoughts begin to fade.
“Either way” is sometimes an uplifting response.