The right state of mind helps us achieve our goals. Increase awareness of how your mind works. Be a neutral observer of your inner state.
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Welcome to the UltimateQuest.org podcast. This is episode #9 and we are continuing the 'Finding your passion' series. The episode title is “Optimizing your state of mind”.
THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND HELPS US ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.
In this episode we help you find your most powerful state of mind. This is the ideal place for your attention & awareness to reside! By optimally using your consciousness you can discover your passion & purpose in life. This will help you on your Ultimate Quest.
We need an optimal state of mind to achieve our goals. It is from this strong foundation that we build our success. We must access true reality in order to make the best decisions. Then we can reach our true potential!
We can only experience our true reality when we are in the right state of mind. Then we function at our best! But what exactly is the optimal state of mind? Let’s discuss this ideal mindset a little further.
INCREASE AWARENESS OF HOW YOUR MIND WORKS.
An optimal state of mind is one of increased or higher awareness. We simply choose to be more aware of all that’s going on. We place our attention & focus. It doesn’t take much effort, because higher awareness is our natural state. It should feel effortless.
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BE A NEUTRAL OBSERVER OF YOUR INNER STATE.
We position our awareness from the perspective of a neutral observer. We don’t get emotionally attached to what we are observing. The optimal state of mind requires a strong awareness of our INNER state. But, we are also more in tune with our body and EXTERNAL senses as well.
TRUE REALITY IS THE OPTIMAL STATE OF MIND.
Living in our optimal state gives us access to true reality! By contrast, any other mental state produces an illusion. These illusions are not real or accurate but they can initially seem more engaging!
Unfortunately, most of us don’t focus our attention on present-moment reality. So we can not utilise the benefits of this optimal state! We often get distracted by some illusion or fantasy. Most of the time we don’t realise this illusion is occurring. We discussed this trap in detail in last episode #8.
RETURN TO REALITY BY BECOMING FULLY PRESENT.
To bring ourselves back to reality we must become PRESENT. This means placing our full awareness in the NOW-moment!
What does this state of higher awareness or ‘Presence’ actually feel like? It’s very subtle so at first we really have to tune in. The first thing we might notice is that we feel more calm and at peace. But when you are in the zone, you are also more alert with greater clarity. It’s quite unusual to feel both calm and highly alert, at the same time! But this is actually our natural state! This is where we should aim to be.
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ALERT AWARENESS IS DIFFERENT FROM ANXIETY.
The feeling of calm-alertness is not the hypervigilance of anxiety, that many of us know so well. This alertness doesn’t feel pressured or fear based! We don’t easily get triggered! Unlike hypervigilance, calm-alertness doesn’t wear us out. It energises us. It is a state of neutrality. From this state we can be more objective & remain unattached.
OBJECTIVELY OBSERVE & RELEASE YOUR EMOTIONS.
In this fully alert and aware mental state, we become an impartial observer. This gives us even greater clarity. We allow ourselves to fully feel what is occurring. We still appreciate things strongly & deeply. But from our neutral perspective, we are able to quickly release any negative emotions. We don’t hold on to the associated storyline or narrative. We don't ruminate & worry about it all!
BEING PRESENT PROMOTES A LOVING RESPONSE.
When in the zone, we intuitively know the best choices to make. This state also promotes the most beneficial & loving response. From this place of being fully ‘Present’, we are kind & compassionate! This is the wisest & most loving way to live! We are fully engaged or ‘Present’. We are connected to our authentic self & enable all our abilities.
HIGHER AWARENESS OFFERS A WONDERFUL VIEW!
The other benefit of residing in this state of higher awareness is the wonderful ‘view’ that we get! It provides a broader or more panoramic perspective on our life. We gain a better & more objective point of view. This helps us make the right choices because we are unbiased & neutral.
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BEING PRESENT PROVIDES HARMONY & BALANCE.
In this state of present-moment awareness, we are not as attached to any particular outcome. Nor are we deluded in some fantasy state or illusion. Nor are we trapped in intellect, over-analysis or in a materialistic hypnotic trance.
In this optimal state, our mind is fully alert, crystal clear and in perfect balance! We are in harmony with all that is going on. That’s the special perspective we get from being fully connected to the present-moment. This optimal state is so different from how most of us live!
WE GET OVERWHELMED BY EMOTIONS & THOUGHTS.
Usually in life, we are distracted by our senses, thoughts & emotions. We are in sensory overload and overwhelmed by our thinking! Life can feel like we’re the lead actor in a theatrical drama production. The spotlight always seems to be on us, pressuring us to perform! Life feels like we are always being burned by the heat of the moment.
ENJOY LIFE FROM THE BEST SEAT IN THE THEATRE.
In contrast, the state of higher awareness feels like we have the choice of the best seats in the house! We don’t feel the pressure of being on stage as the lead actor.
We can see the bigger picture of what’s really going on. We can better appreciate that it is all just a ‘play’! So, we are not trapped in the unfolding drama. We don’t feel so personally threatened by the storyline. We can relax and really enjoy the performance from a state of neutrality & balance.
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SUMMARY OF EPISODE #9:
Let’s recap what we discussed in episode #9 which was titled “Optimising your state of mind”. In this episode, we learnt that being in the right state of mind helps us achieve our goals, live our purpose & progress on our Ultimate Quest. This optimal state is called higher awareness. This higher awareness gives us access to true present-moment reality.
In this state, we make the best decisions. We intuitively know the best choices to make. This is often referred to as being ‘in the zone’. In this state of higher awareness, we feel calm, clear & alert! This calm but alert awareness is very different from the hyper-vigilance of anxiety. It doesn’t require energy because it is our natural state.
To rediscover true reality, we activate our higher awareness and become ‘Present’. This means placing our full awareness in the NOW-moment! Being ‘Present’ gives us the broader perspective of a neutral observer. Living in the present moment promotes wise & loving outcomes. We are more kind & compassionate! We are in harmony & balance.
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by our thoughts, emotions & senses. But higher awareness gives us more separation from the drama of life. It’s even more fun to live in present-moment reality and it’s much less stressful! Through higher awareness we increase our passion for life and make progress on our Ultimate Quest.
Do you want to know more about this state of higher awareness? Is this the very best perspective to have on life? We discuss this further in episode #10 of the UltimateQuest.org podcast. The episode is titled “Choosing the best perspective on life”. See you there!
Congratulations! You have completed episode #9 from the 'Finding your passion' series by UltimateQuest.org