Living with Conscious Awareness
I sometimes hear speakers talk about creating good habits for mental events that will make the benefits of being mindful become automatic. I understand the reasoning behind this hope. We can make many complex physical tasks automatic by repeated practice (e.g., riding a bicycle) so it seems logical to extend this to complex mental tasks.
In my opinion, however, I do not think it is possible to do it. Automatic physical skills allow the conscious portion of the brain to focus on goals for action. The physical skills will support the achievement of those goals. In other words, physical skills are not pursued for their own sake but because they allow us to engage in tasks we consciously choose to be important.
Choosing an action or an attitude that brings real happiness in life ought to be a conscious choice. Imagine being happy but not noticing it! We develop habits so that we can choose to engage in awareness of the important things in life.
So, while I believe that regular practice with mindfulness will provide a familiarity with being conscious of my life, I do not ever want that process to become automatic. I want to live my life consciously, making the important choices that will move me toward living in accord with my deepest values.
John Weaver, Psy.D.
