The word conjures up thoughts of guilt-ridden charitable donations and drawn-out workplace seminars. We become aware of some disease or safety concern for a day / week / month, and then we forget about it until it is brought to light again the following year.
The reason "awareness" gets such a bad rap is that throwing the word into most conversations implies that one was ignorant in the first place. Now I, and I'm sure many others, do not like to be called stupid. And if you're ever called dumb, stupid, etc., you tend to fight that perception by reacting immediately. I mean technically we should be "aware" of all these things all the time, right?
Enter guilt, stage left.
So today, I am calling you stupid.
Audience leaves, back door.
Jokes aside... are you aware of what's inside of you? What you're holding back from this world? What might be your own key to happiness and fulfillment?
Many people go into the same situations, mindlessly submitting to the same outcomes, and wonder why they continue to end up with the same unhappy results. They deem their unfortunate situations as bad luck and conclude that they need to win the lottery or come across some other windfall to turn things around. Maybe they're hoping for that "Eureka!" moment to hit them like a lightning bolt, the answer that will solve all of their problems. They succumb to the will of external forces and wait... and wait... and wait some more.
I'm sorry people, but contentment is earned. You make the time. You put in the effort. You hustle. The truly wonderful things in life don't magically appear; you strategically run toward them, and hurdle anything that gets in your way. And though there are many things in this world that you cannot control, your inner drive, dedication, persistence, and passion are all things that you can.
It all starts with having that awareness. And you shouldn't need a month, a ribbon, or a wristband to remind you of that.
