Being aware is being alive. — Linda (AA Member)

Most people… live asleep… without ever waking up. — Anthony de Mello, Awareness

Awareness is the first move out of mental autopilot. Habits of thought can become so familiar that you miss when they’re counterproductive—or even cling to them despite the pain. Awareness is a tiny pause that lets you notice the thought, rather than be driven by it.

Simple, fast, repeatable: Effective awareness must be quick and frequent—brief check‑ins throughout the day that no one else would notice. This wedge in the stream creates room to choose a response instead of reacting.

How to Trigger Awareness

Use wake‑up questions—short prompts that register your inner state. Keep them simple and change them as needed:

• Am I okay? Slow down and actually check.
• Am I calm? Name the state; calm isn’t required, awareness is.
• What’s the story? Zoom out: past–present–future patterns.
• What am I thinking / feeling? Label it to lead it.
• Is this thought useful? If not, break the loop.
• Why am I thinking about this? Notice distractions.
• I am thinking…? Leave a blank and see what surfaces.

Make It Automatic

• Journaling to reveal patterns and distortions.
• Identify triggers that cue strong emotion or loops.
• Use reminders (alarms, notes, visual cues).
• Change something (watch/ring side, object placement) to interrupt autopilot—refresh often.
• Practice consistently; schedule reviews.
• Celebrate catches; reinforcement builds momentum.

Beyond awareness: Waking up to thoughts is half the battle. The next step is harmonizing them with reality—examining and, when needed, challenging them—so your choices align with the life you want to live.