A is for Awareness

 


A is for Awareness: What are we watering?

In our modern world, we are often told that to be "aware" is to be informed about every crisis, every injustice, and every online debate. But when we practise mindfulness, we learn that awareness is always awareness of something. Many of us are deeply aware of our suffering, disagreement, and frustration. We see a headline or a social media post and feel an immediate spark of anger. We feel justified in that anger. After all, the world is full of reasons to be upset.

But when we focus exclusively on these feelings, we inadvertently "water unwholesome seeds" within ourselves. We think we are looking at the world, but we are actually feeding the frustration inside us.

The current global climate of polarisation, where everyone feels they are "right" and the other side is "wrong", is the perfect example of this. We often forget that the discomfort we feel isn't just "out there" in the news, it is a living seed within us that needs care.

Instead of using our awareness to further fuel our outrage, let's use awareness to calm and soothe. When we notice the seed of anger being watered by a current event, I try to:

  1. Acknowledge it: "I am aware that anger is here"

  2. Understand it, by recognising that this suffering is a human experience shared by people everywhere

  3. Balance it, by changing the tune, and choosing to also be aware of "wholesome seeds", like the singing of birds, the majesty and stillness of trees or the clear reflections of white clouds on still water.

Today, at any given moment that you become aware of what you're thinking about, ask yourself: what seeds is this watering? Am I practicing awareness to understand my discomfort, or am I just feeding the flame?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts

Your English Potential: The Role of Practical Hope

Image
  What keeps you committed to advance your English? Today I reflected on my main reason for teaching English to adults and it can be reduced to one powerful word:  hope . For me,  hope  springs eternal  [ idiom: people always  hope , even when things are difficult ] when considering each individual's potential to connect, grow, and participate. At the heart of what I do is a desire to contribute, in however small a way, to making our world a better place. Through English training, you can develop crucial English and mental skills. Indirectly, this development promotes wider communication through English, the  global lingua franca  [ a language used for communication between groups of people who speak different native languages ]. English is used not only for international business and addressing global issues, but also for spiritual teachers of diverse backgrounds to share their wisdom on how to navigate and address person...
Read more

Beyond the English Classroom: The Power of Curiosity

Image
In our last post, we touched upon the common frustrations of advanced English learners. If you're at or beyond B2, the traditional classroom model may have become stale or uninspiring to help you on your journey to natural and authentic English language use in your real life context. So, what's the alternative? Imagine learning English driven by your own interests, passions, and curiosities. This isn't about "self-study" grammar and vocabulary tasks; it's about a curiosity-led,  guided  self-directed learning approach. Here's why it's a game-changer for more advanced learners: Personal relevance : learn what  you  care about! Dive into topics that genuinely interest you, whether it's quantum physics, historical fiction, or advanced culinary techniques. When you're curious, learning isn't a chore – it's an adventure.  Deeper engagement : you're not just passively receiving information; you're actively exploring, researching, and ...
Read more

The Frustration of the Plateau

Image
You've worked hard to reach a B2 (upper intermediate) level in English. That's an amazing achievement! You can hold conversations, understand complex texts, and express yourself clearly. But now, something feels different, doesn't it? Perhaps you're finding traditional, formal English lessons are no longer delivering the same results. Are you ready to explore how to learn English more effectively? You might be feeling:  boredom: drills and textbooks designed for general learners don't ignite your passion.  slow progress: it feels like you're learning one new phrase a week, not truly advancing your fluency.  irrelevance: the content doesn't connect to your real-world interests or professional goals.  lack of application: you're learning  random new vocabulary and complex grammar, but not truly  using  it in meaningful ways. You're at the point where memorisation and generic exercises are ineffective. You need something:  more interesting ...
Read more