AWAKEN · 01
Pay
Attention
Before you try to change yourself, learn to notice what is already happening inside you.
The first step in formation is awareness.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Most of life happens before we decide what to do.
Reactions, emotions, impulses, defensiveness, withdrawal, and attempts to control can appear quickly.
You do not have to judge them or fix them yet. You can begin by paying attention.
NOTICE THE MOMENT
Something happens
around you.→A response begins
within you.
A message goes unanswered. Plans change. Someone says something that lands badly.
Before you consciously choose, your body and mind may already be responding.
A SIMPLE PRACTICE
What is happening inside me?
When something gets your attention, pause and notice what is already moving within you.
Name what you can: an emotion, an impulse, a tightening, a story, a wish to withdraw, or a need to take control. You are learning to see the moment while it is still happening.
KEEP NOTICING
Repeated reactions begin to reveal patterns.
Pay attention to what keeps returning: what makes you defensive, what you avoid, what pulls you into control, and what repeatedly gets your attention. Awareness creates room for a different response.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.”
Proverbs 4:23