Waking Up to Consciousness

By Chris Stauffer

Do you ever feel like you're sleepwalking through life? There have been times that I have felt that way. We tend to get into our daily routine. We wake up each day at the same time. We take a shower, drink our coffee, and get dressed in the same order each day. We get to work and park in the same spot if possible and sit at the same lunch table each day. There is a sort of comfort that is gained from our routine.

Are we trying to give structure and a feeling of predictability to everything?

Are we trying to feel safe in an unpredictable world?

It seems as though we are choosing the illusion of predictability and safety over conscious living and this is no surprise because this is how humanity has lived for as long as we can remember. It's time to wake up!

Erica and I have two children, a 10 year old and a 1 year old. Children are wonderful teachers when it comes to conscious living or “living in the present moment.”

Last night I was lying on the bed talking to Erica while my daughter, Cosette was on the floor. She had somehow found a container of colored string neatly wrapped up and organized...or at least it was organized until Cosette found it. She was deeply focused on one of her hobbies. The hobby I am referring to is unpacking things. She likes to find items that have been neatly folded or put away and then meticulously removes each piece one by one. Watching her it's easy to see that she is totally and completely immersed in that moment with no other thought in mind. The only thing that matters to her is that single bundle of string.

What can we learn from a 1 year old?

The world held wonder for us as well before we began to “learn” about the world. Before we learned to put a definition and a purpose to the world. This was before we knew a cloud was just water in the form of gas or vapor. We can learn to view the world through the eyes of a 1 year old again. We can look at a cloud with wonder and beauty again.

Cosette sees a neatly wrapped piece of magic. A complete mystery. A promise of a world of wonder.

Next time you see a cloud look at it and be with it without judgment or description. Turn off the voice in your head that attempts to neatly categorize the world. Notice how incredible everything is. Truly see and experience the colors around you. Take a deep breath and smell the air. Close your eyes and hear the bustle and noise going on around you. Immerse yourself in the sensations of the earth. Notice the space around everything and the important role space plays in connecting it all together. Be present with your breathing.

This is the lesson that we can learn from a child. Accomplishing a few seconds in consciousness is a step in the right direction. Routine can be a trap. Break free from your daily routine by taking a few minutes throughout your day to stop and become the observer. Just be there with your environment in that place above thought, above categorizations and wake up to consciousness.

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this exercise. Click here to share.

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