“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” – Jane Goodall.

Developing awareness – It is wise to sharpen our “tool of awareness” of the world we interact with. Awareness of human interaction and connection can give us more information. It can also give us the power to spark a conversation, motivate ourselves and others, and thus change lives.

We are more than a like, a shared post, and a piece of content. Try to become aware that you are a person and others need to treat you as such. Likewise, if we treat every post or share with truth, respect, empathy, and understanding, we will treat others as we want.

Watching the movie of our life—Viewing our faculty of awareness can be like watching a movie—the movie of our journey. Watching this movie and building awareness can start with even the most minor new observation. If we look at life like a movie, we can become the observer. As we learn to watch, a unique and wonderful message can unfold; at times, this story can grow to be of lasting impact.

Sharpening the tool of awareness is more than broadcasting what we know. It is also viewing, listening, and empathizing with the characters in your life.

“Attention pays us back to the degree we pay attention.” Ishall Dogood

Making your attention count— Sharpening our tool of attention in this digital age, where attention is the most sought-after currency, it’s crucial to spend it wisely. Focus on what truly matters to you, what aligns with your values and aspirations. This will help your life and the lives of others. That’s how you make your attention count.

In Martin Luther King Jr.’s words, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Sharpening awareness beyond the physical senses — Sharpening our understanding allows us to see more of the sun’s beauty at sunrise and hear something more like music in the shrieking of a bluejay and the chatter of a squirrel. It can also allow us to become closer to the inner voice that can build our moral code. That code guides us when life’s storms are upon us. We can do the right thing because we have become aware of the nature of goodness in sober moments.

Carl Sagan once said, “We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers, our willingness to embrace what is true rather than what feels good.”

Awareness and our moral power — Sharpening our ability to become more aware is a great tool—one worth our passion. As we sharpen this unique ability, we can become more aware of our surroundings, motivations, and moral power. Sharpening awareness helps us improve, grow, and be guided by our moral compass.

Mahatma Gandhi possibly best expressed this when he said, “If you want to change the world, start with yourself.”

Five tips to start building Awareness. –

• Clearly define how you want to sharpen your awareness. As you journal about the tool of awareness, you start to see possible improvements. Clearly define what an improvement might look like. Play with this vision. Have fun with them. Make them positive and not hard work. See the benefits. See this sharpened skill enhancing your life and the lives of others. Visualize yourself being in the movie of life and acting in with your new-found sharpened skill.

• Know Thyself and start small—Be realistic about what you can take on at first. When you begin to improve any mental skill, it is wise not to bite off more than you can chew. Use the seed analogy in “Become the Boss of You.” Understand that you will reap huge benefits as the seed grows, but starting too big can kill the process. Remember to be grateful and celebrate any small win. Connect how the improvement in your ability will resonate with your interests, values, and needs.

One way to build awareness is to practice being more aware of the beauty and abundance around you. Use your eyes and pretend you are an artist. Look at the painting on the wall that you don’t even see anymore. Look at it. Drink up the colors. Try to feel the colors. Close your eyes and listen to the birds or the sounds of life when you have time. Try to become the sound. Try to become “the listening” if you can for just a short moment. Drink it up. Please do not make it work. Make it play. Make it new. Enjoy it.

You may find that having fun with life improves what you are now playing with and has residual effects on other parts of life you become aware of.

• Intentionally put your new ability into practice – See if you can find a way to utilize your sharpened awareness on social media. See if it can help you when you partner with others. You may want to confide in a close family member or a trusted friend about your sharpened skill. Discuss the benefits you are seeing. Start a dialog. This not only gives you a chance to practice your improvement in your skill, but it may also help out a loved one. This is a great way to give back as you practice sharpening your newly sharpened skills.

• Set a benchmark goal – Once you gain momentum, see if you can find a way to use your new level of awareness. Plan a project or an event that stretches your newly sharpened skills. Consider this like practicing scales when you are learning to play an instrument. Go back to the idea of clearly defining your newly sharpened skill. See what succeeding in this benchmark will look like. Make the vision clear; make the vision fun. See yourself celebrating your new ability and having fun utilizing your sharpened awareness.

• Don’t forget the basics—utilize the power of the written word. Use your private journal workbook to celebrate your successes as you sharpen your awareness. Try to connect the dots about how sharpening awareness has led to other benefits. Has sharpening this tool improved any relationships? Has it allowed you to take advantage of any opportunities? Have you avoided potential losses?

You can also continue to engage on social media and collaboration with others. Two-way communication and interactions with others stimulate us differently than our unique visualizations and journaling. It’s always good to track our progress in our private journaling, but exploring our interests with others is also very rewarding.

Peace, Ishall Dogood

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