WakingUp.net

Awareness involves the capacity to be present in the here and now. This is a skill to learn and practice. Our lives consist of a series of "now" experiences. There is no past or future. The only time one can take action is now. You can't go on a diet next week, you can only go on a diet right now.

Satisfaction comes from keeping your awareness in the present moment. Buddhism refers to this as being "awake'. Thus, the name of the website, WakingUp.net. 

When one is keeping their attention focused on the present moment, satisfaction is experiences. We have all had experiences where we have done something we didn't like, so out attention went to the past or future. If, for example, you are washing the dishes and not liking it, it is common to watch TV, think about your day, think about what you will do the next day, etc. This leads to dissatisfaction.

We have all had times when, while we were doing something mundane, like washing dishes, were were very satisfied, and at other times were were very dissatisfied. Why do we feel differently one day doing the dishes than another day, when we are doing the exact same task?

Likely, when we focus only on the task at hand, it is more satisfying. In the case of the dishes, when we focus on cleaning and no other duty- not on any aspect of our lives in the past or future- there is peace. 

This can be accomplished for any task by focusing on what is termed "the work surface". For dishes, it might be where the sponge touches the plate, or when writing, there the pen touches the paper. 

This gets a little Buddhist, but hang in there. When you are walking, just walk. Focus on where your shoe hits the pavement. We then move and shift our attention from one task to the next. What do I do about all the things I need to plan? Set aside time to only plan out activities. Then, block out automatic thoughts that come in when daily tasks are being done.

When we are present in the moment, we become aware of what is around us. We see everything more clearly. We can observe our automatic reactions and attach them to what is setting them off. We can choose more adaptive paths. We can observe our thoughts and make assessments of whether they are on target or off, and make appropriate adjustments.

Essentially, being present and in the moment allows us to be the captain of the ship, rather than being crushed in the water.

Try this in your own life, whatever you do, just attach your attention to what you are doing. See if satisfaction doesn't result from attending only simple tasks at hand. 

Automatic thoughts and feelings will pop in, and you should let them, and then let them pass through. If something draws your attention for a time, when you notice if happening, pull yourself back to the task at hand.