If you find yourself somewhat unsatisfied or perhaps restless with aspects of your life, it may be a good time to explore the question ‘what is conscious living?‘
Simply put, it means to be present in every moment and make intentional choices that align with our values and priorities.
Living consciously can lead to a more fulfilling life, one in which we feel connected to others, nature, and ourselves.
Life presents itself with endless opportunities and challenges, and we often find ourselves caught up in the fast-paced world around us.
But there is a different path to take, one that leads us towards a fulfilling and purposeful existence.
By deciding to live consciously, you can take steps to make sure you are living in alignment with your true self and find a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in all areas of your life.
What Is The Meaning Of Conscious Living?
As mentioned earlier, living consciously means being present in the moment, rather than living on auto pilot.
We make the intention to experience life through a lens of self awareness.
It gives us the opportunity to stop and reflect on how we are living; what is working for us and what is not.
Living a conscious life opens us up to the amazing potential that lies within us.
It allows us to take responsibility for our lives and make intentional decisions so that we can create the life we truly desire.
By living consciously, we can discover what truly brings us happiness and create a life that aligns with our values.
It means understanding the impact our decisions have not only on our own lives but also on those around us and the world at large.
Most people practice unconscious living, going through the motions each day.
Our lives are so busy and packed with tasks and obligations that we often forget the importance of living mindfully. It doesn’t even touch our radar. We get up, get ready, maybe run kids around, go to work, pick kids up and take them to various places, come home, cook dinner, get ready for the next day etc. Or some version of that.
The daily life that most of us experience doesn’t give us the space for self reflection and self awareness.
This is something we must claim for ourselves.
What Is The Benefit Of Conscious Living?
By living consciously, we gain more control over our lives and are better equipped to create a happier and more fulfilling existence.
Rather than being reactive to our circumstances, we become proactive in shaping our own destiny.
By making conscious choices, you start to notice patterns in your thoughts and behaviors.
With this awareness, you gain a newfound sense of self discipline, which makes it easier to break old habits and establish new ones.
This heightened level of awareness doesn’t stop there, as it can positively affect all areas of your life, from the food you put in your body to the people you surround yourself with.
Learning to ground into the present moment and become aware of your thought processes allows you the opportunity to make choices that bring you closer to the life you want to live.
How To Build A Conscious Lifestyle
Building a conscious lifestyle can seem like a daunting task, but it is a great opportunity to create a better life for yourself.
And one of the best ways to make this happen is by creating new habits that are in line with conscious living.
To do this, you can use the ‘8 areas of life’ below as a framework.
Each area plays an important role in creating balance and purpose in our lives.
Start by evaluating your current routine and making small changes that will enable you to spend more time fully conscious and engaged in each area.
1. Physical Environment
Your physical environment includes your home, where you work and the places you visit.
Focus on making changes that create a positive and inspiring atmosphere. There are small, easy thing you can do to achieve this.
Declutter your home, add plants for natural purification, create a bedroom sanctuary, or a sacred space in your home to practice meditation or yoga and make an effort to switch off electronics when not in use.
Learning how we can give back to the planet is an important part of living life consciously.
Working toward a minimalist lifestyle and introducing nature into your environment where you can are two ways to start.
One small habit that I’ve started to introduce is cleaning away the dishes and clearing the bench each night, so that I have an uncluttered space to make my coffee or juice the next morning.
Another small habit is buying flowers every second week – they brighten the space and make me feel happy when I see them.
2. Work/Career
Career is a huge part of our lives. We spend the majority of our day at work but often neglect to apply the same conscious living principles we live by at home.
Many of us now have the flexibility to work from home. You can use this to your advantage by intentionally setting up your workspace with your health and wellbeing at the forefront of your mind.
Make sure to take breaks throughout the day, practice mindfulness when making decisions and look for ways to create more balance between work and your personal life.
A seemingly easy habit to introduce here is a 5 minute break every hour. Seems easy, but is actually quite challenging to put into practice.
Another nice thing to do is to incorporate the crystal energy into your workspace. Not only will you receive the benefit of crystal resonance, but they add to the visual aesthetic and can be a grounding tool for when things get hectic at work.
3. Social – Friends and Family
The relationships you have with your family and friends have a huge impact on your life.
Focus on cultivating meaningful connections, staying present and being mindful of the words you say and the actions that you take.
I make sure to put my phone on silent and that it is out of sight when I catch up with my girlfriends. See..another thing that seems obvious and easy, but actually goes against the grain of how a lot of us interact these days.
4. Finances and Wealth
Your relationship with money and your financial habits can have a direct effect on the quality of your life.
Be aware of how you feel about money, and if it creates a sense of fear or contraction within you.
What do you enjoy spending your money on and what values does it represent to you?
This is one where we can use our personal power, by making the conscious choice to spend on products or services that reflect the positive values we have decided to live by.
I now buy my toilet paper from Who Gives A Crap..a small action that has positive consequences.
5. Fun, Recreation and Entertainment
This is usually where you would spend whatever valuable free time you have – so make it count!
Make sure you take some time for yourself and engage in activities that bring joy into your life.
This could involve anything from attending a live music event, listening to a podcast, going for a yoga class to taking a road trip.
What lights you up? What makes the time fly? Do more of that!
For me, this is meeting a friend at a cafe and catching up over delicious food.
6. Health and Wellness
Your health is one of the most important areas of your life, so make sure to prioritize it.
This includes having a healthy diet, regular exercise, enough sleep and managing stress levels.
Make conscious decisions about your lifestyle habits and pay attention to what makes you feel energized and vibrant.
There are so many ways we can optimize our health and wellness, from being vigilant about what we put on our skin to using biohacking tools such as infrared sauna blankets.
Eat the rainbow, move your body in a way that is fun and enjoyable and also makes you feel good. And make sure to get some rest.
I introduced celery juice into my morning routine – a habit that really does improve my energy levels.
7. Love Life
Focus on creating healthy connections by being honest in your communication, taking time for self-care and understanding what you need in order to feel fulfilled.
Be conscious of how you interact with people and remember that it is ok to set boundaries.
Become self aware. How are you feeling when you’re in the presence of your loved one? Practice grounding into your body and noticing the thoughts that are running through your mind…take yourself off auto pilot.
8. Personal/Spiritual Development
Your spiritual practice can be anything you choose – reading, meditation, yoga or journaling.
Do what resonates with you and make sure to take some time each day to connect with your inner self and stay grounded in the present moment.
Developing a spiritual mindset and keeping a regular spiritual practice will help you feel more connected, give you clarity and help you find peace.
Personal development is also important – focus on developing new skills, setting goals and pushing yourself to become the best version of yourself.
One of the easiest things you can do here is download a meditation app and start with a daily 5 minute meditation.
Final Thoughts
By committing to conscious living, we truly can create a fulfilling life.
With awareness and mindfulness, we can make choices that honor our highest values and lead us on the path to self-development and growth.
It is important to remember that every person’s journey is different, so take the time to figure out what works best for you and don’t be afraid to adjust your habits as you progress.
No matter where you are in life, conscious living can help bring clarity and joy into your everyday existence.
So take a moment today to appreciate the present moment and make a plan on how to begin creating a more conscious lifestyle.
