Awareness is the prerequisite for creativity. It’s a mysterious superpower that stops you from texting while walking into lampposts, keeps you from forgetting your keys, and helps you live a life filled with meaning and boundless expression. Developing awareness is as much about practicality as it is about enlightenment. It’s about making life larger and less full of avoidable bruises—literal and metaphorical.
Start with Your Body
Your body is like that friend who leaves passive-aggressive notes instead of telling you what’s wrong. It whispers clues all the time. All you need to do is listen.
Spend a day noticing what your body does when you’re stressed, bored, or happy. Does your heart drop when you’re scared? Does your cheek shake when you’re lying? Awareness starts with figuring out what your personal "tell" is.
By the way, when your body says, “I’m tired,” always listen. Awareness is also knowing when to nap.
Master the Art of Observing Others Without Staring Like a Creep
The world is an ongoing improv comedy, and everyone is playing a part. Cultivating awareness means tuning into these performances. Watch how people move, speak, and react.
Go to a coffee shop. Notice the barista’s speed when the line is long or how someone taps their foot impatiently waiting for a latte. Awareness isn’t about judging; it’s about noticing patterns and connecting the dots.
Warning: Don't get caught mid-stare. The line between "observant" and "restraining order" is thin.
The Great “Inner Voice” Debate
Your brain is like that person who’s always talking but doesn’t always make sense. Developing awareness means learning to separate your brain’s drama from reality.
For example, the next time your brain says, “if I don’t jump 7 times on my right foot before locking this door, something bad is going to happen,” take a second. Pause. Ask yourself, “Is this true, or is my brain trying to win an Oscar for Best OCD prompt?”
Pro tip: Write it down. Seeing your thoughts on paper turns them from overwhelming blobs into something manageable. Also, OCD is a result of serious childhood trauma. Do not leave it untreated.
Technology: Your Frenemy
Technology is the ultimate awareness thief. If awareness were a medieval knight, your smartphone would be the sneaky wizard trying to zap it.
Turn off notifications for one hour. Just one hour. Observe how often you itch to check your phone. If you find yourself scrolling out of muscle memory, congratulations—you’re aware of your tech addiction.
Resist the urge to check your phone while waiting in line. Look around instead. Who knows, you might spot an art inspiration.
Laugh at Yourself—Frequently and Loudly
Developing awareness means realizing you’re a human disaster sometimes—and that’s okay. Forgot where you parked? Congratulations, you’re part of the 99% of drivers. Said something awkward? Join the club of people who replay their mistakes at 3 AM.
At the end of each day, reflect on the most absurd thing you did. Awareness isn’t just about spotting mistakes; it’s about finding humor in them.
Awareness as an Art Practice
Developing awareness isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about noticing more—your body, your thoughts, the world around you—and realizing how interconnected it all is.
When you become aware, you open yourself to the raw materials of creativity: the textures of experience, the voice of intuition, and the nuances of the world.
Without awareness, life is a blur, a series of unconscious actions and reactions. But with awareness, every moment becomes a canvas, and every experience a stroke of potential. The simple act of noticing—a bird’s flight, the taste of tea, the pattern of sunlight—can spark creativity.