Cultivating Awareness

Are we drawn to certain things for a reason?

I absolutely believe so.

How is that the new perfume that I picked out, wear this year, LOVE, and get many compliments on just happens to be called: La Vie Est Belle (Life is Beautiful) a new Lancome fragrance??? Coincidence?  The concept of this fragrance is centered on the idea of natural and simple beauty, freedom from conventions and the choice of one’s own vision of happiness. The fragrance is a kind of outlook on life, inspired by joy and pleasure in small things.

On that same note, I’m doing my best to live each day awake and aware of the finiteness of life.  As I make day to day decisions, I keep asking, “If today were my last day on earth, would I be satisfied with this choice?” By doing so, I’m becoming acutely aware of what adds comfort, contentment, peace, and meaning to my life.  I’m realizing some pretty interesting things.

One thing is how little value I’ve attributed lately to the simple things that bring me immense joy – watching the birds feed from my sunroom window, listening to my wind chimes making their beautiful melody when the wind catches them,  being in the presence of my dog, since dogs have no concept of time, she is the perfect example of “living in the moment“, sleeping with an open window so I can hear the the sounds at night, or listening to the rain without doing anything but savor the sound.

It’s so easy to put all of our energy into what we’ve been conditioned to value -advancing a career, making a living, building a business, or completing our to-do lists.  In our drive to succeed, we tend to miss, (or dismiss) the events that bring us joy.  They seem only secondary, a reward after a hard days work, or a peripheral pleasure we happen to stumble upon.

I’m making pleasure a primary goal.  I’ve been tracking the little things that bring me joy for quite awhile now and it’s always a surprise at what makes the list.  Simple things.  Tiny things.  Things that often cost nothing at all.

This week, try and make an effort to become aware of the little things that make you smile.  As you notice them, pay attention to how they make you feel.  If they feel good, really good, attach value to them immediately.  Tell yourself, “This is the kind of experience that matters.  I want more of this in my life.”  Awareness is a powerful motivator for change. If you keep up this practice, you’ll start to see things change, almost effortlessly and amazing things will begin to happen in your life.