Conscious living, or mindful living, means that we are aware of the moment when we are in it, rather worrying about the future, ruminating about the past, or simply operating on autopilot. We are intentionally living a life by design, not by default, one where we are consciously attempting to live according to our own values and beliefs.
Often we drift through life, never really questioning what we want or why we want it, just following along with the latest societal norms and comparing ourselves to what our friends are doing, or searching outside ourselves for the next fix. Our days can become a cycle of rinse and repeat and before we know it, years have passed and we’re still adrift.
Living intentionally means examining our lives, and consciously updating the running programs of our lives. Essentially being conscious is about bringing AWARENESS to every part of our lives – both our inner and outer worlds, and then living in ALIGNMENT with that.
This is easier said than done. Both biology and society make it harder to step out of the norm and do things differently. Our brains are efficient and they’re wired to run on autopilot, things that we do regularly get delegated to the subconscious part of our brain, so that we can perform them without thinking.
Modern life is busy and fast paced: we are over committed, overscheduled and overwhelmed. Most of us habitually move through our lives on autopilot, rarely stopping to question where we are going, or why we’re headed there.
We are wired to always be “on”, and we’re constantly being fed billions of bits of information, messaging and ideas, that we’re both intentionally and unconsciously, absorbing from friends, family, media and society.
Along with these societal pressures, we have our family, kids, parents, coworkers, friends and lovers who make demands on our time, and our attention is further distracted by social media, netflix, media and entertainment.
Often we’ve lost sight of who we are, and what we want.
We might feel ambivalent, coasting along not giving any of it too much thought, simply being a passenger as life just happens to us; or we feel stuck as we live out our automatic habits and default patterns of behaviour, wondering why nothing ever changes.
A life lived of choice is a life of conscious action.
A life lived of chance is a life of unconscious creation.
– Neale Donald Walsch
Some of us are exhausted from constantly striving: running from one goal to the next: career progression, a payrise, home ownership, business goals, a holiday house, a perfectly sculpted body, education, a new car. Relentlessly chasing the ‘next big thing’, but barely stopping to breathe and be present in our lives as they’re unfolding.
Amidst the busyness and chaos, and without the pause for contemplation, how can we be sure that we’re pursuing what is meaningful to us? Are we making the time for the things that really matter, and do we even know what they are?
The first step in living more purposefully and intentionally is to consciously discover and define your values, and then live your life in alignment with those values. With this insight we can start to live our lives with purpose and passion, intentionally directing our time and attention to what matters most.
Years ago, I worked with a life coach and she encouraged to do some deep values work to figure out what was really important to me, and set my future course. It was some of the most impactful work I’ve ever done. With my values as my guiding light and internal navigation system it became easier to set boundaries, reduce FOMO and overwhelm, and have the clarity, confidence and determination to pursue my goals.
Day by day I have been able to set my priorities and align my actions with what I value most. For me that’s connection, freedom, self-mastery and purpose.
What are your values and guiding words?
Let me know in the comments below.
If you don’t know what your values are, then grab my guide and workbook and you’ll be one step closer to consciously creating a life you love.