A great exercise that opens my mind to a multitude of remembered experiences associated with a wide variety of\u00c2\u00a0emotional\u00c2\u00a0states. \u00c2\u00a0As I reflect on these memories and try to filter them with label “heightened aliveness” I struggle somewhat with the concept of aliveness itself. \u00c2\u00a0What does it mean to be alive. \u00c2\u00a0What does it feel like. \u00c2\u00a0My only memories are of being alive and with no accessible memories of the alternative it seems\u00c2\u00a0unavailable\u00c2\u00a0to me other than in some conceptual\u00c2\u00a0artificial\u00c2\u00a0way. \u00c2\u00a0 There is something about duality that greases the wheels of understanding that is not accessible with aliveness. \u00c2\u00a0I\u00c2\u00a0understand\u00c2\u00a0cold better in contrast to hot. \u00c2\u00a0I understand dark better in contrast to light. \u00c2\u00a0In fact without light, could there be of degrees of darkness. \u00c2\u00a0Circling back I wonder is there are states that are more alive or is it simply increased awareness of my aliveness.<\/p>\n
Some of \u00c2\u00a0what I\u00c2\u00a0perceive to be\u00c2\u00a0my most alive moments happen in the outdoors, watching a sunset, the view from a mountain peak, floating in water. \u00c2\u00a0The connection with a greater universe and a sense of time that is unmeasured; where your awareness is as a bi-product focused on the cusp between\u00c2\u00a0present\u00c2\u00a0and future, watching the sun slowly move through its phases of sunset.<\/p>\n
Other experiences are very much as others have described. \u00c2\u00a0The Adrenaline rush that David refers to brings a different sense of aliveness that seems to change my experience of time\u00c2\u00a0colored\u00c2\u00a0by an anxiousness of what the future is about to deliver. \u00c2\u00a0I can also very much relate to Caroline description of her Ballroom dancing exam. \u00c2\u00a0When you are performing, trying to achieve some goal,\u00c2\u00a0particularly\u00c2\u00a0with an audience time seems to take on a completely\u00c2\u00a0different\u00c2\u00a0feel.<\/p>\n
But coming back to the question of defining heightened aliveness. \u00c2\u00a0It is\u00c2\u00a0clear\u00c2\u00a0that awareness is a key ingredient to a sense of\u00c2\u00a0heightened aliveness but I still wonder if being more alive, in a more literal\u00c2\u00a0objective\u00c2\u00a0way, \u00c2\u00a0is possible and what it might mean.<\/p>\n
As always TSK brings me as many questions as insights.<\/p>\n
Robert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A great exercise that opens my mind to a multitude of remembered experiences associated with a wide variety of\u00c2\u00a0emotional\u00c2\u00a0states. \u00c2\u00a0As I reflect on these memories and try to filter them with label “heightened aliveness” I struggle somewhat with the concept … Continue reading