Witnessing Awareness

“One must always be aware, to notice—even though the cost of noticing is to become responsible.”
~ Thylias Moss
 
One of the key things that I have learned after attending numerous Chopra Center programs is the importance of developing the witnessing awareness.    Just stop for a minute and witness who is reading this blog entry. Look at yourself as if you are watching yourself in a movie as you read the blog and begin to become aware of yourself and what you are doing.  You can develop the witnessing awareness with a mindfulness practice where you observe your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judging them as good or bad.
 
It was important for me to practice this on everyday normal activities so I could apply this technique during challenging opportunities.  Now, when I become angry or upset, I stop before reacting and saying anything I will later regret and notice that I am upset.  I ask myself “who is upset?” and “who is offended?”  I take a deep breath and come from a place of heart-centered awareness and respond from my highest self instead of the person who wants to yell back or give a snarky and sarcastic retort.
 
Then I find time to journal about this and see if I can get to the bottom of why my ego is hurt.  Does it go back to issues I have with abandonment or feeling like I am not good enough, or is it another issue that I still need to resolve.  Once I process the situation, I let it go and move on to the present moment.  You must understand that I work on this and sometimes I let go within an hour and other times it may take me a day or longer.  But, I let go much faster now than I ever used to in the past and with practice I know I will get even better. Developing the witnessing awareness has helped me come from a more positive and peaceful place during stressful times. However, because I am aware of what I am doing, saying, and thinking, I know that I am responsible for my actions and I consciously make more reflective choices.
 
How can you develop your witnessing awareness?
 
Are you responsible for your actions, words and thoughts?

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