So I’m away with my sister and we’re having food together in a busy, bustling breakfast room.
We’re sat opposite each other, talking. And listening. Back and forth, the conversation goes.
I'm having an experience. Of her. And our exchange.
One moment later there’s a pause in our conversation and all of a sudden I can hear all the other stuff going on concurrently: people talking loudly, just behind us, clatter of crockery, music playing.
But a few seconds ago, it didn't exist for me.
It was not there.
It's not that I couldn't hear it—my ears were working just fine and the sound waves will have been waggling my inner ear bones (smallest bones in the body, don’t you know?) in exactly the same way—it's that it did not exist in my consciousness.
At all.
Bonkers!
Yesterday I spoke about ‘presence’ and how it’s something we experience “when we’re not attending to ‘personal’ thinking” and this is all part and parcel of the same thing.
One moment I was present to my sister’s voice, my voice and the details of our conversation (to the total exclusion of all other stimuli).
Another moment I was suddenly present to all the other stimuli in my environment… and realistically, thinking got revved back up again.
And the next, I was putting that left brain of mine to good use, excusing myself from the conversation, apologising, whipping out my phone and jotting down the notes for this Daily Reminder!
And on it goes.
Wherever our attention is, that’s what consciousness brings to life and that is literally the reality we experience.
That’s bloody good to know, I’d say!
Hey – let’s take it a step further.
Why not commit to putting your attention on looking in this direction. Really prioritise it!
I can pretty much guarantee things will change for the better, whatever situation you’re facing and however much your mind doesn’t think it will help.
Consciousness may be bonkers, but it's where it's at!
💟
Giles
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Giles P Croft
The lesser spotted ‘Really Important’ Daily Reminder - don't miss it!