Watch and Observe

If we do not watch and observe our reactions, how do we know if we are making the best choices. Living in automatic mode and giving our mind the ability to make automatic decisions may not be the best option. If we can focus and be aware of what our mind is up to, we will see a variety of choices.

Practice being aware of the beginning of your thoughts and the initial mental reactions of what your mind automatically wants to do and give yourself several seconds to see your choices. This will teach you to look at what is happening in the present moment without immediately reacting with your opinions, concepts, and habits, and may allow you to see various choices and not go into autopilot. If we can watch and look at what is happening inside of us and with everyone around us without adding from the past, life can grow much happier and we can live in a more peaceful environment.

When we continue to use our habits, concepts, and opinions, they grow stronger. A good way to break away from these is to be aware, see that they are automatic and let them go if they are not helpful. It may take a thousand times before they are gone, but they will go away. If we can change our daily unhelpful mental stories, and do this time after time, similar automatic thoughts will slowly disappear.

If we have strong opinions and habits, we seem to have no choice in how we react. When a situation happens, we just react. Have you ever had something happen and afterward ask yourself why you reacted the way you did? It could have been a situation that caused great harm to you or those around you, or it could have just been something unnecessary that surprised or shocked you.

If we can learn to watch and see the simplicity of life’s events without reacting automatically, positive changes can happen. If we can let go of unhelpful concepts, opinions, and habits, we can see more helpful options.