The dictionary defines “awareness” as “knowledge or perception of a situation or fact”.

I define “caught up” as being totally absorbed in an activity or situation without knowing you are totally absorbed ( to the exclusion of everything else going on around you or mentally inside you). Therefore you are not aware.

For example: you can watch a movie or TV program two ways:
(1) Being “caught up” in the movie to the extent of not realizing you are sitting in your chair watching the movie, or
(2) Watching the same movie, still enjoying it, but also simultaneously aware you are sitting in your chair watching the movie. This usually happens when the movie is not too interesting.

The difference between getting “caught up” in your activity or situation and being aware (knowing) of what you are doing and thinking during your activity or situation is that being caught up reduces your observation into a very narrow mental space.

Being caught up does not allow you to see and observe the totality of the situation.
You miss the details and clues a more aware state of mind can see.
You do not allow the intelligence of the body and brain to assist you.
Therefore you cannot change your actions to optimize your decisions and to optimize the outcome of the situation.

When you are caught up your programs (mental conditioning) limit your awareness due to the interference of the baggage these programs contain. i.e. Judgments, opinions, concepts, expectations, desires, etc.

When you are not aware you are being controlled by your programs that were placed in your brain by other people.

Do you want to live your life as a puppet or do you want to have free will?

HOW TO BECOME AWARE:

(1) Quiet your mind by practicing whichever form of Meditation that appeals to you.

(2) Use everyday tasks to connect to your Awareness: say “I know” as you walk or wash a dish or drink a glass of water. Notice the difference in your awareness level when you say “I know”.

(3) When you watch a TV program remind yourself that you are sitting in your chair watching the program. Notice how quickly your awareness slips away.

Awareness impacts everything. Awareness is Power and Intelligence. We must tie Awareness with the Objects of Awareness in order to access its Power and Intelligence.

Most of the time our attention is only on the Objects of Awareness. Without Awareness we would not be alive or have the ability to sense anything.

When you quiet your mind notice what comes in. That “noticing” is the outer edge of Awareness. The more you quiet your mind the more access you have to Awareness.

WHAT CAN ACCESSING THE AWARENESS LEVEL DO FOR YOU?

Awareness offers you the opportunity to awaken to all your six senses. Most of us only use five senses (hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, touching). The sixth sense is the mental sense of knowing. Awareness is the door to awakening your sixth sense.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF AWAKENING TO OUR SIXTH SENSE?

(1) So that you can view reality as it really is, without interference from the baggage in your programs.
(2) So that you can choose to act based on seeing the totality of the situation rather than your illusionary view.
(3) So that your emotions are not controlled by your programs.
(4) So that your decisions are based on a clear view of the events.
(5) So that your brain is released from its chains and can offer you all the options available to you.
(6) So that you can understand other people and develop sustaining relationships.
(7) So that you can be open to all the opportunities available to you.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE AWAKENED YOUR SIXTH SENSE?

By being able to observe your thoughts and your experiences as they occur, without being judgmental, with a quiet mind. This is called Mindfullness. You can then determine if the thought is of value to you and all others around you.

HOW TO PRACTICE ACCESSING YOUR SIXTH SENSE:

Observe and journal your thoughts as you go through your day. List the baggage that you recognize (desires, expectations, fears, opinions, assumptions, envy, jealousy, comparison, impatience, etc.).
• Notice how this baggage interferes with how you view the experience that you are in. Does this baggage have any impact on the decisions that you make?
• Notice the words you use in your thoughts and speech and how they trigger your programs.
• Notice how using different language can influence which program is activated.

There are more tools to help you with awareness at www.wakeuptoyourhigherself.com

Author's Bio: 

Murray has been a very successful businessman for over fifty years. He has spent the past forty years in the study and practice of meditation, consciousness and Eastern philosophy, beginning with Transcendental Meditation.

Extensive studies in meditation, consciousness and Eastern philosophies have taken place through workshops and seminars led by Ken Keyes, Jr., Jean Houston and master teachers from the Vipassana Meditation practice, Kripalu Yoga, Omega Institute, Princeton University, Silva Mind Control and Reiki training sessions.

In addition, Cohen is an avid practitioner, practice leader and researcher of QiGong and Tai Chi and studied with Roger Jahnke, O.M.D. at the Institute of Integral QiGong and Tai Chi.

Murray’s work in meditation and consciousness training has culminated in the concept of Mindful Thought Management. Murray experienced a profound shift in perception, awareness and control in how he experiences every aspect of life.

Cohen decided to share his knowledge and experience in the form of his workbook "Wake up to your Higher Self"

His hope is that everyone will use this workbook to learn how to experience happier and more fulfilling lives, which in turn will make the world a better place for everyone.

Cohen wishes to dedicate all of the profits from this workbook to the education and support of children in need.