How to Make Better Choices Using Awareness
Learn Methods to Take Control of Your Decisions.
Jul 1, 2009
Making better choices in life can be a frightening task for many people. Although some people find it easy to make the right decisions in life most others struggle with the idea of it. By realizing that you do indeed have a need to make better choices in life you are already on your way to doing so.
To Make Better Choices You Must First Become Aware
If you want to make better choices the first thing you must learn to do is to become aware of your role. Before you can analyze why you make wrong choices or prevent yourself from continuing to do so you must allow yourself to become aware of the decision making process when confronted with it.
Many people that make bad choices do so without even thinking about out it only to become upset after it is too late. People often say, "Why did I do that?" after it is too late to go back and fix things. When unconscious emotions cause you to make the wrong choices it can be even more frustrating since it feels like control of the situation has been lost. Teaching yourself to be aware is the first step towards taking control and making better choices in your life.
The most important part of learning to be aware is staying in the present moment. When people make bad choices it is often because they are focused on another time and place such as the past or future. Lingering fears about past actions cause people to stress out and react. Anxiety about what may occur in the future is equally upsetting, also causing emotions rather than minds to make choices. If you stay in the moment you can see things more clearly which will in turn allow you to make better choices.
To Stay in the Moment and Make Better Choices
Staying in the moment is easier when you are making a conscious effort to do so. By following these straightforward suggestions you can easily find yourself becoming more aware with each passing day.
- Stop yourself when your thoughts wander or stray away from the current situation.
- Acknowledge that you need to be present and that there is a choice to be made.
- Once aware that there is a choice to be made, do not allow your mind to wander or stray until you have made a conscious decision.
- Avoid thinking of outcomes or other types of possibilities that have not yet come true and focus on what you actually want to happen.
- Try to keep a handle on your emotions and avoid making rash decisions.
As long as you can become aware of the choices before you there is a higher chance that you will be able to start to learn to make better choices in life. If you desire a change you are already moving in the right direction towards awareness.
Awareness is absolutely necessary to stay in control and deal with what life has put before you. By avoiding awareness you are allowing your mind to be open to potentially negative choices made by your subconscious.
After Awareness Continue Your Journey to Make Better Choices
If you find yourself consistently aware of the paths before you but still continue to make bad choices in life you may want to consider moving on the next part of the process which includes analyzing the options and their roots. Once you can clearly see your role in the process you will be better equipped to make better choices.
Sources:
- Osho, Awareness: The Key to Living in Balance (New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2001).
Readers may also enjoy How to Make Better Choices With Recognition.
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