Episode 48 : Awareness of the Present Moment Plus a Mediation for Sleeplessness

Exploring Awareness

Episode 48 : Awareness of the Present Moment Plus a Mediation for Sleeplessness

The actions of our mind are a wonderful gift as we enjoy past memories, solve problems and plan for the future. Taken to extremes however, our minds can come up with the details of past events so vivid, it is as if we are reliving them over and over again. Future events can be created as well, so a future scenario seems to be completely true even though it hasn’t happened yet! These mental creations can lead to stress, anxiety and trouble sleeping, and trying to get rid of them can make it worse! When you become truly “aware” this is happening, a shift occurs. In this episode, we talk about how using mindfulness techniques to explore awareness can activate the “awareness mind”, where we become aware of our thoughts, aware of awareness, and in that awareness find a place of peace and calm.

Sometimes, recreating past and future scenarios occur when we are trying to sleep. A calm and dark room does not have the distractions that our daytime activities provide so the mind can really go. In this episode, we provide a guided meditation to help you see the thoughts and reactions for what they are, then you can “rest as awareness” and see what happens. Practicing exploring awareness during the day is a great way to prepare for those restless nights.