How conscious are you in your everyday life?
Awareness and consciousness are closely linked, yet they are not the same. To be aware requires a level of consciousness, but consciousness can exist without awareness. This is a common state for many of us. The question then arises: how conscious are you during your daily activities?
In recent years, I have observed a noticeable shift in my own awareness. My ability to focus my attention in any given moment has sharpened. This enhanced attention helps me understand myself better in various situations, allowing me to remain steadfast in unexpected circumstances.
However, achieving this level of awareness demands practice. It requires being rooted in the present moment, rather than getting caught up in memories of the past or worries about the future. Our society is filled with distractions that can easily pull our attention away if we let them.
A recent viral post by my co-pilot Tina Lundquist asks a provocative question: "Who would hire someone who is 12 years past their sell-by date?" This highlights a disturbing trend in some companies.
They seem to believe age is a disadvantage, especially for those over 45, viewing younger employees as more desirable. These beliefs often stem from a subjective understanding of the world, shaped by the bubbles we live in.
Many organizations are built by people who share these limited perspectives. While we are aware beings, we often navigate life inattentively and rarely challenge the validity of our beliefs.
This lack of reflection allows harmful assumptions, like age discrimination, to persist both for individuals and in the job market.
Most people are not fully in the moment. They tend to dwell on past experiences or fret about the future. When the present moment calls for attention, it can feel intrusive or disruptive. This could explain why employees sometimes feel uneasy approaching their bosses.
When our beliefs face challenges, we often invest significant energy in defending our views. We rarely pause to consider that there may be truth in perspectives different from our own. Our egos prioritize being right, leading to reactions that can be illogical and unproductive.
Attention serves as the foundation for our ability to concentrate and learn. It enables us to experience our emotions, which influence our actions. Attention also plays a crucial role in our ability to empathize with others.
In a noisy world, wisdom can be found in recognizing what truly matters amidst the distractions.