What's Your AQ?
Many of us can discuss our IQ at length. We know the score, we
understand what it measures and we may even remember the test we took.
Some of us are familiar with the the concept of EQ. Our emotional
quotient or emotional intelligence. This concept basically discusses
our ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to
discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one's
thinking and actions.
This is all well and good, but I want to know about your AQ. What is
your Awareness Quotient?
Are you aware of your surroundings?
Do you notice even a small amount of the plethora of things that go
around you at any given moment?
Can you dial yourself into the opportunities and signs that present
themselves to you all day long?
Raising your awareness is shockingly easy to do, yet very few people
practice this. It is a matter of making a conscious and concerted
effort to do so. Be in tune with the flow of your life. Realize that
your actions can and do have an impact on those around you. Just like
the actions of others have an impact on you.
Practice being in the moment in which you are.
If you are engaged in a conversation, be engaged. Listen. Listen
both intently and actively. Don't worry about what you will say next.
If you are paying attention to what the other person is saying, the
words you need will come to you without much effort on your part.
If you are playing with your child, play like your child does. Your
appreciation of the time will be far greater as will your interaction.
It's okay to have fun. Everybody is doing it.
Should you find yourself in nature, take some time to get really quiet
and listen to the sounds of it. How many birds can you hear chirping?
Do you hear crickets or other insects? Is there water moving nearby?
How far off is that semi rolling down the road (special note, if it
is coming right for you, you will need to get out of the way and
realize you really aren't in nature at the moment).
If you are writing, let the words move from your head to the keyboard.
If you are truly in the moment, they will flow to your fingers as
fast as you can type.
Realize that there are no ordinary moments. There is never nothing
going on. Love the moments you live and you will live the moments you
love.
Be aware-
Terry Bean
| Topic | Replies | Likes | Views | Participants | Last Reply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical/Spiritual Relationship | 0 | 0 | 715 | ||
| I'm Sorry...Please forgive me. | 5 | 0 | 2878 | ||
| Volunteer or Play in a Touch Football Tournament at Michigan Stadium | 0 | 0 | 1043 |
Terry, thanks for reminding us that we are living right now. Not a minute ago and not a minute ahead... right now.
Indeed, our awareness is the one and only tool that allows us to get present.
BTW, I love what you shared about playing. Here's the father's day poem I got from my son Henry last year:
Daddy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me too.
You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile 'cause I love you
On this Father's Day.
NOTE: "You need me to teach you to play".
Dodge ball for everyone!!!!
-Preston
What a sweet and wonderful gift Henry gave you, Preston!
I Believe we are both teacher and student to our children - and being "in the now" is something they teach us (so we can "re-member" ourselves).
And Terry - thank you for this: "Realize that there are no ordinary moments. There is never nothing
going on. Love the moments you live and you will live the moments you love."
You are both my teachers today -
Linda, studiously
AQ= Awareness Quotient. Are you aware? Read these posts and find out!
Terry, thank you for resurrecting this thread. The phrase "childlike sense of wonder" is used often, and yet, I think it's apt. When we fully live in the present, a contagious amazement, joy, and empathy will result.
Quoting Terry for emphasis: "Practice being in the moment in which you are." I must practice more diligently. Yet, what better gift can we give another than to be fully present with mind, body, and soul?
Makes me think about a long-ago meditation teacher, who spoke repeatedly about striving to be a human "be-ing" rather than a human "do-ing."
I'm changing my earlier stance on Terry's statement, "There is never nothing going on." In some eastern traditions, nothingness is the ultimate - so, There is always nothing going on... and part of our AQ just might be bathing in nothingness on a regular basis!
Tally Ho!
Linda has a point about being. I see awareness as being in the moment. It has been called being centered or being grounded. It is all the same. I prefer the term centered. For me it equates to being here, now, and aware of myself. I am not flying wildly all over the place. It is what I strive for. Thanks again for the reminder.
"Realize that your actions can and do have an impact on those around you. Just like the actions of others have an impact on you."
So very true Terry, when more people become more aware of what they do and how they affect others, the trickle down effect in other aspects of life will be astounding in my opinion.
You got it Michael...there is a tremendous ripple effect based on our actions. We have far more influence over one another then we will ever realize.
Terry