In my last two blogs I explored how conscious evolution relates to two of the big issues of our time: world peace and sustainability. I’m aware however that many folks have so much going on in their lives to begin to even consider such big issues. Just getting through each day can be more than struggle enough.

Thankfully, as Chris has nicely pointed out, Conscious Evolution is just as relevant to The Little Things as to the big things. For example:

Whether we have bad eyes, a dodgy leg, a demanding loved one to care for or colleagues that don’t seem to pull their weight (for example), day to day life for many in today’s world can seem heavy going. We may know the theory and have an intent to ‘always look on the bright side of life’, but that can be easier said than done: particularly if we feel isolated and/or alone in such an intent. Thus, part of the intent of Conscious Evolution Today is to build a community of like-minds and kindred spirits who can support each other in fostering a connected state of mind. Please get in contact if you’d like to be part of such a community.

Here I’d like to explore a few related ideas and pull-together some of the approaches you may already be finding helpful. For example, finding something to laugh or smile about, or ‘fake it till you make it’: just laugh or smile anyway, maybe because there is nothing obvious to laugh or smile about! Scientists would say that it’s all to do with serotonin: get that flowing and we can’t help but feel more positive about life. It’s also to do with being present: connecting into the unlimited potential (within life itself) of the present moment can help to put whatever is bothering us into perspective. To smile or to laugh is to bring our focus of attention into NOW, to connect our facial muscles into a natural zest for life. Even if, particularly if, subconscious fears or frustrations (for example) are pulling us in other directions.

Coincidentally, I was watching The Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday, where we’re introduced to the Riddikulus spell, a proven defence against a Boggart. The idea behind it is well accepted: if something fearful is on your mind, turn that thought into something silly, something ridiculous: just as Ron Weasley imagined dressed the scary Professor Snape in his gran’s clothes, complete with red handbag. The profane, like the profound, can lighten the energy, help us in rising above fears.

Likewise, anything that puts our preoccupations and particular perceptions into perspective can be invaluable in coping with a challenging day. For example, workmen have, for many months now, been renovating the block of flats that half-fills the view from my office window. Initially sounds emanating from the building site had not been too loud, frequent or irritating as a sat at my PC in said study-bedroom (I work from home). However, throughout the current phase of work there has been a constant throb of a machine, probably a generator. The sort of sound that you feel as well as hear, that is neither white noise that can be ignored nor easily covered with a sound of my choosing. And it’s been almost continuous, from 8:30 to 5pm, every week day for months. I sure am thankful when they turn it off to have their lunch! I admit not only in struggling to not get depressed or frustrated by it but also to deliberating creating a reason to leave the house to get away from it.

I’m reminded of some years ago when I lived near Brighton and the next-door neighbour was having building work done that involved a lot of pneumatic drilling. The current building sound is comparatively benign, yet I found a response to that one: I imagined mental blocks in my head, ideas I wanted to break up and destroy. And I did just that by imagining the pneumatic drill from next door shattering this old conditioning. That imagery doesn’t work with the sound now, but I’m hoping a suitable alternative will come to me . . soon!

Whilst such sound might not affect others, I’ve always preferred silence, or at least an absence of noise. All too rare in today’s world

And so, I find ways to put this engine sound into perspective: for example, a White Rain Noise Generator: white noise created from recordings of falling rain. Now that’s a natural sound and natural image I can be at peace with!

What all these tricks to stay positive have in common is their essence: enabling a shift in consciousness. By choosing to engage beyond rational justifications and conditioned fears, so we are not allowing mental procrastination to drag us down.

Such conscious commitment to being positively present is an essential aspect of conscious evolution. How, when times are hard, do you achieve it?

This painting was inspired by observing raindrops on a window pane . . .