Chapter 1 Awareness

If you live with awareness—you have it all! Anil Gupta

This is the foundation stone to human existence. Yes, it sounds like a profound statement and it is. Without awareness, we would not be in existence as it is a basic tool that ensures our very existence, as well as survival.

If we were not aware of our circumstances we would have been eaten up by wild animals or poisoned by bad food. It is the awareness that lets us know what is going on in the world, what is a danger and what is not.

We, as human beings, have lost much of that innate skill as we live in safer, cleaner and abundant environments. Your ability to master this skill will have a direct impact in the relationships and success that you have.

This one skill, if mastered, will produce abundance for you in many forms. Suppose you wanted to fly out to New York for a short getaway.

If you were to call the airline and asked the question “I want to fly to New York.” What is the first question they will ask you?

• What are your travel dates? • How many people traveling? • How long are you staying for?

• Where are you flying from? The most important question is—where are you flying from?

You need to know where you are to get to where you want to get to. Otherwise, you will get to wherever you get to. always. It is vital to know where you are in life so that you can get to the place you want to get to in life.

People have targets they want to get to but if you do not know where you are, then how can you get to the place you are keen to get to? And how do you know whether that is truly what you are seeking?

Only through awareness is this possible. I was with my wife the other day and she said “I really want to go to a particular place.” I had the awareness or sensory acuity to see what she wanted was very important to her and what a difference it would make for her to have her wishes met.

I did not always have this Awareness. That is quite an understatement actually, as for many, many years of our married life, I had no or very little Awareness.

It was because of the love Meena had for me that our marriage flourished. If I can develop that skill then so can you! it is a skill that can be practiced and mastered quite easily but requires effort. Awareness has enormous and often immediate benefits.

I remember a time when my daughter was not her usual self and I was fortunate to be aware of that. My questions about it produced no response. I had to find a way.

I was able to see that she had some sort of upset so I said “Honey, I love you very much and I know something is bothering you that is stopping you from being truly happy at this moment. I promise not to judge or chastise you for anything but lend a supporting ear to your issue.

If you want to talk let’s talk it over and I am sure we will find a solution.” It was entirely up to her whether she wanted help or wanted to handle the situation herself. I was not attached to her response.

She received awareness of the fact that someone else noticed and became aware of the fact that it was affecting her happiness. A quick and painless conversation followed whereby she relayed a concern that she had for a friend at school that was resolved within a few minutes.