March 2011

Do you struggle with paying attention? … To the present moment, here and now? Throughout the day just to check your breathing is calm and even, to feel the breeze in your hair or the warmth of the brilliant sun on your upturned face? Do you stop long enough to listen to others – your
children, your partner, your work colleague or your friend – to truly see them and their unique beauty, no matter how hidden away? Do you regularly check your own attitude – your thoughts; your words; your actions – your own happiness!

Often life gets so busy that we don’t even notice our own limiting behavior and forget to maintain our own happiness, making it all too easy to blame or sit in judgement of others. Many relationships – personal and professional – are in turmoil today due to the lack of awareness about how our own attitude can affect not only ourselves but others as well. When there is no attention there is tension – causing conflict and separation, and unity will be difficult to attain. Yet it is possible – a little selfless effort to check my own behavior goes a long way to accommodate others. Focusing on my own attitude makes it easier to give full
attention to anyone I interact with. Being attentive to the needs of others while remaining loyal to my own – in other words, without
compromising myself – is true power.

Remaining true to myself on the deepest level maintains my own happiness, making it easy to make others happy. True happiness is not expecting others to make me happy but paying attention to and understanding what I can and cannot change… I cannot change others but I do have the power, the responsibility and the right to respond in an empowering way.
Happiness is not reliant on what I extract from outside of me, but is solely reliant on me remaining true to myself on this deepest level, true to my own value. Using my own power here and now to express my virtues is what gives me value, generating happiness and power to steer my life. If I don’t consistently use this power, I instantly lose value (use it or lose it) and I become unhappy.

Question: Do you remain happy and attentive regardless of your
environment?

Contemplation: Why do you think your stage may fluctuate?

Activity: Each time you catch yourself being distracted and not paying attention. STOP … Breathe and congratulate yourself for recognising it, then gently bring yourself back to the present situation – be it at work, spending time with your family, or simply lacking attention in your own activities. Paying attention is the best donation you can give in this world of chaos and fastness – it STOPS tension almost immediately.