Understanding Awareness

Awareness can be such a buzz word, but what does it actually mean? The dictionary definition of awareness is "knowledge that something exists, or understanding of a situation or subject at the present time based on information or experience".
We learn to understand our wants, needs and motivations by using awareness. For example, in 2011 when I was getting recurrent chest infections, I realised that it was caused by stressful, grief related shallow breathing. By breathing properly into my belly, and my managing stress, As well as going to the doctor, the recurrent chest infections stopped.
Awareness means questioning your behaviours and reactions to situations. When you have a sugar craving, it's asking yourself a few questions. Why do I need a sugar high? What am I trying to emotionally numb? Is there a better way to deal with this feeling?
Awareness can be brought to relationships, work, money and health. Through awareness, you're looking at sources of joy and seeing how those sources can be built on for the future. You're also looking at sources of tension, and seeing how you can stop experiencing that tension in the future.
Awareness, rather than burying our head in the sand, helps things to pass. Through awareness we identify how we need help and support to face what's going on in our lives.
For stress management and mental health support contact Tracy Fitzgerald from Relax From Stress Holistic Cente on 0862202734 or visit www.relaxfromstress.ie
Published in the Connaught Telegraph newspaper on 24 October 2017