Attention plays a crucial role in determining states of consciousness, influencing what we perceive, how we relate to our experience, and how we feel about it.
ATTENTION AND STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Where we place our attention influences not only what we perceive, but also how we feel and think about the experience . For example, if we focus on negative thoughts and worries, we may feel anxious or depressed. On the other hand, if we direct our attention to things that bring us joy and gratitude, we can experience more positive and elevated states of consciousness.
When attention is focused on a specific stimulus, states of consciousness tend to be more concentrated and directed. For example, when we are deeply engaged in a challenging task, such as solving a complex mathematical problem, our attention is focused on the task and our consciousness is highly focused on it.
On the other hand, when attention is diffuse and open, states of consciousness can expand and become more inclusive. Practices such as meditation, contemplation, and flow states can involve broader, more receptive attention, allowing for a more fluid and effortless experience.
The ability to move attention away from the individual mind through applying its eye focus to the unseen is essential for spiritual development and the awakening of consciousness. When we are in a state of presence we are observers of ourselves, we are aware of the present moment without judgment or identification with our thoughts, emotions or experiences .
THE OBSERVER OF SELF
The process of personal development and self-knowledge can help us better understand our motivations, needs and aspirations, allowing us to make more authentic and conscious decisions.
The ability to direct our attention to the "place of the self-observer" is fundamental to our ability to reflect, question and make decisions aligned with our personal interests and values .
When we can direct our attention to this "self-observer place," we cultivate a form of reflective awareness or self-awareness. This allows us to observe our thoughts, emotions, impulses and behaviors from a more objective and distanced perspective.
This ability of self-observation enables us to:
Observe and become aware of patterns of thought and behavior: We can observe our thoughts and emotions, identify recurring patterns and correlations between them and feel how much they are in line with our essence - truth and authenticity.
Observe external influences: We can observe how external influences shape or have shaped our beliefs, attitudes and behaviors, evaluating whether they really reflect who we are and what we value in our authenticity and individuality.
Make conscious decisions: Through self-observation and connecting our attention with our essence we can make more conscious and deliberate decisions about how we want to live our lives and respond to the situations we encounter without fear.
Being an observer of oneself involves cultivating a state of observance and an attitude of curiosity and acceptance towards our own experience, actively using attention and taking it beyond the mind to be able to observe it - as the mind creates thoughts and influences our emotions . Being in a state of presence facilitates this process, as it helps us distance ourselves from thoughts and emotions, allowing a clearer and more objective view of ourselves.
The hardest part is always being able to reach that state of consciousness where you are observer and observed simultaneously. There are many techniques and modalities, which sometimes allow us to achieve a glimpse of this state, but they are difficult to maintain and anchor it. Healing , not being any technique and using only attention, helps to facilitate and anchor this state of consciousness, for ourselves and for others.
This allows us to develop a deeper understanding of our mental and emotional patterns, as well as giving us greater freedom to choose how to respond to internal and external stimuli .
It is through this process of disidentification that we can discover a source of peace, clarity and deeper understanding that is beyond the limitations of the conditioned mind.