We're just over halfway through the course now. And your mindful awareness is increasing. You're likely beginning to wake up from autopilot from time to time. People often report that they notice more. They see the environment around them. Things start to come into focus at points during the day. You may notice what you're doing and how you're doing it - and also how it makes you feel.

You may remember to slow down, to be gentle, to move away from judging and comparing, leaving you with just what is, rather than what might have been, what could be, what should be.

All of this can seem like a gradual shift from black and white to colour, an emergence.

This improving awareness and enlivened present moment attention can provide you with a real opportunity to make better choices. And in particular, during this active awareness exercise, the encouragement is to notice when you've taken on too much. Or hopefully, you'll notice before you agree to take on too much. Introducing a pause before you agree to do an extra task or take on additional responsibilities.

Noticing the impulse is often to agree, to say yes - a lot. We all want to feel that we're helpful, capable, and accommodating. It taps into our need to belong, showing what we can do and that we're pulling our weight.

At work saying ‘yes’ and taking on more makes us feel that we're improving our chances or we're improving how we believe we're seen in someone else's eyes.

These things matter, of course they do, but they don't matter as much as your ability to perform and to do a job well - and they certainly don't matter as much as your well-being. Health as we know, is a fragile thing.

So, in the coming days and weeks, noticing when there's potential for delaying, not necessarily saying ‘no’, but taking something on, on your own terms and schedule, when you know that you're equipped with energy and time. Or saying ‘no’ constructively with explanation, particularly if things are not going to serve you, or if the request takes you off course, or doesn't align with your values or goals. Or you might delegate, making sure that you tap into the resources that you have around you.

Active awareness can also help you to notice when your attention has been hijacked. These are the times when we find ourselves working on something that we didn't intend to, when we're really trying to get something else done. It might have seemed like a good idea or felt helpful. But really, it's taking you off course.

Active awareness can support us with these better choices and constructive, thoughtful conversations and negotiations. It can help in redirecting or course correcting our efforts. This sends a strong signal that you and your time are valuable. Not an on-tap commodity open for the taking. Sending a signal of professional judgement and ownership of your time and energy.

And finally, in the coming hours and days, using your active awareness to enliven the relationships and connections at work and in your personal life that are really important. Use mindful reflection to identify the people who are genuinely supportive, the people who are on your side. These are the people who will remind you of your talents, your qualities, of what you're good at, things that are not necessarily on your CV, but the strengths that you have, the values that you hold. Identifying these people and reinforcing your connection with them - a short message to say hi, a quick coffee and a catch up.

And maybe also identifying the people who are not so much on your side, who take your energy without giving anything in return, whose attitude or approach doesn't sit well with you. Noticing this actively and drawing back as much as is possible.

Making sure that you place your attention and your time with the connections that are healthy and mutually supportive.

This Chapter 5 Active Awareness is an encouragement to notice your emerging awareness - and to be even more active with it.

Chapter Five

Moving from Frantic into Flow

How would you like to practice?

Chapter Five (Listen)

Active Awareness: Action for You

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