Being aware is important. I think above all things, the 365 Commitment has made me aware of what I am doing during each day. I am consciously thinking about it morning and night and throughout the day. I am now acutely aware when I spend time on an activity just what it cost me. If I decide to spend time on something, I am making a decision and now that I follow the 365 Commitment that decision is well informed.
How often do we go through life spending time on activities with out purpose, direction or even awareness? How many days this year were so similar to each other, you cannot remember them? They are a blur because that is exactly what they are – a blur.
Do you have gaps in your life that you cannot remember very well? I do. I can barely remember my high school years, and I struggle to remember my late twenties. There are things I do remember, my wife and I taking a trip together for example – but what is really sort of sad is that I realize now that I was spending a lot of time on autopilot. I was not aware of what I was doing, I was just going about my course of action allowing myself to be acted upon rather then act for myself. Consequently, I do not have an acute memory of many years.
If days are fading into each other, then you are not aware. You are lulled into the mind numbing unconscious part of our existence and of just getting by. The 365 commitment forces you to think about what you are doing each day, forces you to prioritize, forces you to actively think about how to maximize every single day.
What is interesting is that when you are aware of what you are doing you really focus on how you are doing it. You spend time thinking about form – how it gets done. Instead of just going through the motions, you question the motions and look at how you can improve it. This is because you are aware, and awareness allows for mental focus.
It is really incredible that the human mind can do this. While driving we can zone out and end up driving to a destination and not really recall that you even just did that. You might have had this experience, where your mind suspends for a brief period of time and is not actively or consciously operating the vehicle – your sub conscious is and doing a remarkable job at that.
Being aware does not necessary mean to be focuses on the given task all the time, but you certainly can be aware of what you are doing and how and why you are doing it. This way you can improve and make your life better.
Just a benefit of the 365 that I have not been able to articulate, but after nearly 300 days of doing this, I have become aware of my awareness!
Guy Reams (299)
365 Member
