Inward Observation with simultaneous Outward Observation.

[Menna]

There is a new exercise that I have been introduced to that is like a present I get to open anytime I remember to access it.

At times when I observe myself I may be tired or sad or angry and this is ok this is my current inner state but is one sided as there is also reality (life) out there outside of my inner state.

I have been able to observe my inner state while simultaneously focusing my observation out there to what my eyes see.

If I am going for a walk and I observe my inner state lets say I have had a long day at work and I am tired I will then (When I remember to) observe what is happening in nature

In the moment when I am able to do this I have realized that the source of my tired, sad, negative emotion is being produced in my intellectual center and in this moment of observing inward as well as outword my center of gravity shifts from my intellectual center (Crap) and I feel more alert, excited/happy.

Alot of times something negative might happen at work or in a relationship or life in general and I feel alot of us carry around what happened days or weeks ago in our intellectual center. I believe its important to know that it happened to be aware of the conflict but not let it follow us everywhere we go blinding us from the reality out there. When observing your inner state give observing whats happening around you a try see how it changes your inner state

 

[obyvatel]

There is a new exercise that I have been introduced to that is like a present I get to open anytime I remember to access it.

At times when I observe myself I may be tired or sad or angry and this is ok this is my current inner state but is one sided as there is also reality (life) out there outside of my inner state.

I have been able to observe my inner state while simultaneously focusing my observation out there to what my eyes see.

If I am going for a walk and I observe my inner state lets say I have had a long day at work and I am tired I will then (When I remember to) observe what is happening in nature
...................................

I believe its important to know that it happened to be aware of the conflict but not let it follow us everywhere we go blinding us from the reality out there. When observing your inner state give observing whats happening around you a try see how it changes your inner state

Yes, this can be useful especially when we are stuck in our own world struggling with some conflict. I have observed that really looking at what is around me, hearing the sounds around me, sensing the air coming through my nose as I breathe and on the skin, sensing the ground beneath my feet as I walk - all these simple mundane things that are always there but mostly ignored, gives me a boost of energy and helps me gather myself together. To me, this is getting in touch with "being" at the basic human level.

[quote author=Menna]
In the moment when I am able to do this I have realized that the source of my tired, sad, negative emotion is being produced in my intellectual center and in this moment of observing inward as well as outword my center of gravity shifts from my intellectual center (Crap) and I feel more alert, excited/happy.

Alot of times something negative might happen at work or in a relationship or life in general and I feel alot of us carry around what happened days or weeks ago in our intellectual center.
[/quote]

I think the negative emotions drive the intellectual center - not the other way around. Freeing up the intellectual center so that it can think independently of the influence of the limiting emotions is one of the big challenges in the Work on oneself.

 

[Menna]

I agree making the mundane conscious can be used as a tool in the work. What led me to realize negative emotions and the intellectual center are closely related was when I would observe that I was just living life from my intellectual center this is what thy self was currently doing and at thismoment i would hold attention on whatever is going on around me in this moment a new consciousness emerged and this produced new way of thinking/emotions. I don't know what comes first the egg(emotions) or the (chicken) I can't slow these processes down enough to be 100% sure which one is first through the door however they both make it through if not together then right behind one another. I like and feel that these new emotions/thinking that are produced at this time would be a better way to live and i would like to be able to hold that way of being for longer even better make it my default state...I feel that my current higher centers are very weak and need progress mixed with nourishment. However I can see small pieces of my old self fading and would like to keep on chipping away maybe faster. But as G says "Those who go slow go far"

 

[nicklebleu]

Thanks, Menna, for your post, sounds like a good thing to do.

I have recently started to do something similar, when I am feeling negative emotions, to turn my look from inside to the outside and try to consciously enjoy what I can see. And it has helped a lot. I just was not completely aware what exactly I was doing, but now that you have spelt it out I can see that I did pretty much what you have described.

Onwards and upwards!

:)

 

[Menna]

Yes continue this with as much wonder and excitement as possible and also add in other "work" related things like EE, new knowledge and reflecting on experiences after I do said exercise I feel I have a clearer head and in this moment I can better reflect/learn from past. Maybe my ego/preditor is distracted for a few moments. Also maybe one can discover their own programs by writing down what their current inner state is when they transition from strictly inner observation to inner/outer. What was I thinking about? Why? How many times have I written down that I was thinking about the same thing? Is this a pattern? Is this really me? If not can I remember what my default state was when I was younger more pure more myself? I view 4th way exercises that help as sponges or rabbit holes how much can I squeeze out of this excessive before it dries up how far can this take me?

 

[A Jay]

Yes continue this with as much wonder and excitement as possible and also add in other "work" related things like EE, new knowledge and reflecting on experiences after I do said exercise I feel I have a clearer head and in this moment I can better reflect/learn from past. Maybe my ego/preditor is distracted for a few moments. Also maybe one can discover their own programs by writing down what their current inner state is when they transition from strictly inner observation to inner/outer. What was I thinking about? Why? How many times have I written down that I was thinking about the same thing? Is this a pattern? Is this really me? If not can I remember what my default state was when I was younger more pure more myself? I view 4th way exercises that help as sponges or rabbit holes how much can I squeeze out of this excessive before it dries up how far can this take me?

I've been doing something similar as well, whenever I 'remember to self-remember' I try to notice all my body's sensations as well as looking at what's happening around me while also observing my inner state. It's helped free up a lot of energy for me. I've also been writing a lot of things down that are on my mind. Mostly lists of things to do, but even these can provide a lot of insight into what's going on internally and it never occurred to me to take that second look at them.

Thanks for this, I look forward to my continued experimenting! :)

 

[Altair]

For me self-remembering is first of all non-identifying with the external world. Earlier I used to automatically react internally if I for instance observe some people or their behavior or just things around. It was like a trigger for a chain of emotions/thoughts/judgements with which I was immediately identified. Now if I see the first sparkle of a thought/emotion that arising in me as a reaction to some external irritant I'm just trying to let it go not identifying with it emotionally. It's important not to suppress them (because they would just go to your subconsciousness) but just not to be identified with them. I noticed that it much more easier to do it if you sense your body at all time. The belly breathing which actually used to be our natural art of breathing, which the modern people have forgotten, helps me a lot to sense my body. And I'm trying as often as possible to breath with my belly, to make it a new habit, so that my moving center learns to do it automatically.

My 2 cents :)

 

[edgitarra]

There is a new exercise that I have been introduced to that is like a present I get to open anytime I remember to access it.

At times when I observe myself I may be tired or sad or angry and this is ok this is my current inner state but is one sided as there is also reality (life) out there outside of my inner state.

I have been able to observe my inner state while simultaneously focusing my observation out there to what my eyes see.

If I am going for a walk and I observe my inner state lets say I have had a long day at work and I am tired I will then (When I remember to) observe what is happening in nature

In the moment when I am able to do this I have realized that the source of my tired, sad, negative emotion is being produced in my intellectual center and in this moment of observing inward as well as outword my center of gravity shifts from my intellectual center (Crap) and I feel more alert, excited/happy.

Alot of times something negative might happen at work or in a relationship or life in general and I feel alot of us carry around what happened days or weeks ago in our intellectual center. I believe its important to know that it happened to be aware of the conflict but not let it follow us everywhere we go blinding us from the reality out there. When observing your inner state give observing whats happening around you a try see how it changes your inner state

True that! I remember coming from a very tiring day at work on Saturday night(it was around 4 a clock in the morning) and I had to walk home around 2 km. It was totally lonely outside, no cars no people, complete silence on the streets(strange feeling when you see it for 2 km). And then I started to hear a bird singing, I think it was a nightingale. I just stopped there next to her listening for about 5-10 minutes at her amazing speech. The bird was giving signals to another one. I became calm and totally forgot about my tiredeness. The greatest impression that can totally change my mood in a blick of the eye is when I see the sky full of stars at night. It is simply beautiful and vast that you can get lost in it:). I start thinking of all the life existing in the universe and the beauty and complexity of creation.

The belly breathing which actually used to be our natural art of breathing, which the modern people have forgotten, helps me a lot to sense my body. And I'm trying as often as possible to breath with my belly, to make it a new habit, so that my moving center learns to do it automatically.

My 2 cents :)

I have a question about this because I have heard before and it confuses me... are you not breathing usually with the belly? Are people in general not really breathing with the belly, but with the chest? It is strange, I think I got it from my mom, we are both breathing with the belly as a automatic breathing. I find it difficult to breathe with the chest and it feels like there is huge weight on the chest when i try to do it.

 

[Aiming]

The belly breathing which actually used to be our natural art of breathing, which the modern people have forgotten, helps me a lot to sense my body. And I'm trying as often as possible to breath with my belly, to make it a new habit, so that my moving center learns to do it automatically.

My 2 cents :)

I have a question about this because I have heard before and it confuses me... are you not breathing usually with the belly? Are people in general not really breathing with the belly, but with the chest? It is strange, I think I got it from my mom, we are both breathing with the belly as a automatic breathing. I find it difficult to breathe with the chest and it feels like there is huge weight on the chest when i try to do it.

You're really lucky having learned that from your mother, because yes, most people from a very young age "un-learn" to breathe with their belly, and breathe with their chest instead, all the while using muscles that aren't meant for this purpose, which explains the natural feeling of weight (and also constriction) that you've experienced. The reason this happens is to do with the child learning that feeling and expressing emotions is unsafe/not wanted by its caregivers/family, and a way not to feel them is dissociating from them/shutting them down by breathing differently, and shallow breathing is another example of this. So yes, many people need to learn to start breathing naturally again.

 

[edgitarra]

Could it be possible that this chest breathing is also a consequence of living in a world of competition and power-thirst were people tend to show off their "chests" meaning they show power and authority? Maybe I am just babbling but at least I could see this at home when gypsies were coming around to look for fights. They would show up their chests and try to impose their strength and superiority.

 

[whitecoast]

Thanks for bringing up this thread Menna! I think people often greatly underestimate the value of this re-orienting back to the moving center's groundedness. Experiencing tension between the outer posture and the inner posture (generated by outwardly manifest that which disagrees with the inner) is one of the essential ways we grow our free will and awareness.

A similar exercise I do is to try and cycle my attention between the centers. You start by focusing on outward sensations of light, sound, touch, etc. Then you switch to the emotional side, sensing your gut feelings, the affects you're going through--stripped of mental content as much as possible--, and possibly the feelings others around you engender. Then you move to seeing the abstract thinking that sort of hovers over outer and inner sensations, as well as the formless sort of pure abstraction you get when you're in deep thought over some logic puzzle or whatever.

I do this a few times, changing direction of the cycling sometimes as well. Then I try and observe two centers at once: mental/emotional, mental/moving, emotional/moving. I notice that each of these 'attentional postures' I consciously focus on has a distinct feel and flavor, like these are tools suited for certain tasks. For example if I'm running just for the pleasure of it, I tend to go do much more joyously and vigorously when I adopt an emotional/moving posture than a posture that involves the mental center at the expense of another. Mental/moving's really good for when I'm doing organizational work in my house or office.

These are merely my own observations though; how your own subjective sense may produce something else. Whatever the case though, it's highly beneficial to experiment with different types of attention and their effect on you and the world. :)

 

[nicklebleu]

Could it be possible that this chest breathing is also a consequence of living in a world of competition and power-thirst were people tend to show off their "chests" meaning they show power and authority? Maybe I am just babbling but at least I could see this at home when gypsies were coming around to look for fights. They would show up their chests and try to impose their strength and superiority.

That, and also it being very uncool to have a "belly" - six-packs are what everyone is aiming for, and that precludes belly breathing almost automatically.

 

[Menna]

I feel that these moments of peace and clearity are a great way to think about a problem that requires mentation. In these moments my emotional center is more open because my energy has shifted from my intellectual center. I believe this gives system 2 a chance to kick in because I am feeling more and when studying this process maybe one can get a feel for system 2 get familiar with it so that system 1 can be ignored. In getting use to this process maybe system 2 in time will dominate over the rushed/brash and often subjective system 1 type of thinking. I know system 1 will always be first through the door however the "size" (for lack of a better word) maybe can become smaller?

Earlier I used to automatically react internally if I for instance observe some people or their behavior or just things around. It was like a trigger for a chain of emotions/thoughts/judgements with which I was immediately identified. Now if I see the first sparkle of a thought/emotion that arising in me as a reaction to some external irritant I'm just trying to let it go not identifying with it emotionally. It's important not to suppress them (because they would just go to your subconsciousness) but just not to be identified with them.

I believe that automatically reacting that you talk about would be classified as system 1 (correct me if im wrong because I lent my thinking fast and slow book to a friend cant look it over now) it might be good to try and slow down when this happens and see what center reacts first is it the intellectual center leading to emotions about a certain situation? Then look into why you have this intellectual judgments, looking into programs developed in childhood will help make sense of why these lower intellectual center judgement are happening leading to misguided emotions leading to energy drain. I know that judgments first start in my intellectual center wrong calculations are going on about a situation and then an emotion is triggered when I do this process of inner and outer it helps to get a grip on reality and I can say to myself well that judgement is subjective and thats not me.

I agree not to suppress them but filter them I do welcome some emotions over others as these emotions remind me of how I felt during childhood as I feel these emotions/thoughts are more me. As I do this exercise more and more my memory, sensations, and smells of my childhood are becoming clearer and clearer thus my actions are changing as well.

 

[SadEyes]

True that! I remember coming from a very tiring day at work on Saturday night(it was around 4 a clock in the morning) and I had to walk home around 2 km. It was totally lonely outside, no cars no people, complete silence on the streets(strange feeling when you see it for 2 km). And then I started to hear a bird singing, I think it was a nightingale. I just stopped there next to her listening for about 5-10 minutes at her amazing speech. The bird was giving signals to another one. I became calm and totally forgot about my tiredeness. The greatest impression that can totally change my mood in a blick of the eye is when I see the sky full of stars at night. It is simply beautiful and vast that you can get lost in it:). I start thinking of all the life existing in the universe and the beauty and complexity of creation.

Amazing story. I am constantly awe struck by the beauty and simplicity of animals, insects and all things living outdoors. Some days, I like to just sit and watch the bugs fly, the ants crawl, spiders spinning webs and watch/ listen to birds playing and singing. Nights have always held a special place in my heart, especially when skies are clear. Nothing fills me with hope more than smoking while self-remembering and gazing at the night sky. The same exact thoughts you shared also flow through my mind; and if it weren't for my dog roaming around a non-fenced in backyard, I would spend much more time out there doing that.

 

[Menna]

Could it be that this feeling of awe is part of the higher emotional center and in this moment of awe your lower intellectual center stops. I know that when I get this feeling of awe feeling of emotion my energy is shifted from behind my eyes/in my head to my chest stomach area and then I come back to my head with more balance and realize what I was thinking about before this reaction happened was most likely lower intellectual center