Be able to notice changes.

 Today is another lesson learned from Zen teachings.

Zen monks keep to routines rigidly, and one of the reasons for this is so that change is more noticeable, the subtle changes in the mind and body when there is a structure to your life.

When you maintain a regular lifestyle, the slightest changes are more apparent. This is important for self-growth, the more you notice changes happening, the more you are able to control the changes that you want to make.

Observing yourself in a controlled situation offers evaluation of your being, one morning you get up and feel energised, this may happen for a week, and then one morning you don't feel quite so good, why? This may be due to a shift in the moon and tides, hormones, maybe the onset of illness, but being more aware of how you feel and this change can help you deal with it easier.

I am always joking about Menopause, although some say it isn't funny, but I find I sit on the side of dark humour a lot. With menopause comes a rollercoaster of hormones firing erratically at me not knowing what I'm up to from one day to the next, but I have this wonderful Zen tool with me. I get up in the morning and take the dogs out for a walk, how do I feel? Do I feel like I did yesterday? Is my energy level okay? Am I anxious? Do I feel moody and lost? This morning awareness sets my day up perfectly because I can adjust what I do next according to how I am feeling.

Being self-aware is so important for not only you, but those around you. I have seen many arguments particularly in couples where a woman hasn't been self-aware, her mood has overtaken her senses and she takes it out on her loved ones. The loved ones are lost to help, because, how can they understand to help, when she doesn't know herself? This eventually spirals, arguments happen and this can continue on and on eventually breaking up happy families. It's not an exaggeration, menopause causes lots of friction and arguments when the woman is not self-aware and also, when the rest of the family don't take time to be aware of what is happening too.

My husband always says that my self-awareness is helpful! That's an understatement, if I didn't put the work in to check on myself and put in place control measures and lots of ashwaganda, then we wouldn't have the super-happy easy relationship that we do have. And I'm not saying that I am easy to live with all the time, the hormones do get me, but that is life after all, it is about the rollercoaster sometimes, but make it the little playground one for toddlers, the easy ride that you can jump off of any moment.

Self-awareness is key to your success and happiness.

Here are some tips, and they work for me, adjust for you.

Morning routine - keep the same routine every day, this helps you to know how you are feeling right from the word go. And make part of this routine as time out, sit, drink tea, reflect on your feelings and if necessary write down your feelings in a journal or diary. Are you happy? Sad? Anxious? Excited? What is your mood? 

Make adjustments according to what you gained from your morning routine meditation. If you are feeling sad, do something that will brighten your mood, find something to laugh about, or exercise to elevate your mood. If you are anxious, write down your stress container list (see previous blogs) and eliminate what is not necessary. Self-help off of the back of your self-awareness.

Now, you notice so far the first two are all about 'SELF' but how about now you include others? If you don't have a partner or children in your life, then this is where your friends come into play. And I mean real people, not animals, animals are great at cheering you up and providing a means for exercise, but they don't give you proper support and feedback. Find a real person in your life, tell them how you feel, ask them for help if you need it, or if you are feeling super happy and excited, share this with them too, your friends and family aren't just there for the bad times, they are there for everything! 

Try this for a couple of weeks and see how you get on, being more self-aware can solve problems before they even get started! 

Happy awareness :)