THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICES IN THE SELF-MASTERY ATTAINMENT PROCESS

“Always hold fast to the present. Every situation, indeed every moment, is of infinite value for it is the representative of a whole eternity.”
                                                                                     ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

How do we actually begin the process of regaining self-mastery? These three fundamental practices are requisite to not only the [ultimate] mastery of our thoughts, emotions, behaviors and actions in every moment of our lives, but to the mastery of all of our creational energies and capacities.

DEVELOP PRESENT MOMENT AWARENESS

Linear cyclical time does not actually exist. It is a 3rd-density perception of non-linear time, which does exist.
 
We create from the present moment, whether our consciousness is focused on past, present or potential future unfoldments. However, when we dwell either on the past or upon a potential future which does not yet (or may never) exist, we undermine our ability to fully observe and learn from what is unfolding in the here and now. Placing focused attention on the past in order to educate ourselves as to what is really going on in the world, to identify and clear distortions and to correct self-limiting, fear-driven patterns of behavior is absolutely essential.

But if you become mired in reliving events of the past or various projected futures — whether your own or our shared past or [potential] future(s) — you sabotage your power to co-create with higher-order consciousness, energies and wisdom right now. This is one of numerous creational "traps" into which many have stepped.

Those stuck in either past or future modalities of consciousness continually fill the present moment and create through experiential energies that can inhibit or completely block present-moment awareness, experience and creational capacities. Over the course of time, they become virtually incapable of thinking, feeling or acting (creating) through the modality of present-moment awareness, thus tainting its fullest creational potential.
 
Setting aside time to exercise our ability to contemplate and consciously, energetically project ourselves into potential future unfoldments is as vitally important to the self-mastery process as exercising our ability to project our awareness into the past. Attuning to, developing and experimenting with the innate, multi-dimensional/multi-timeline functional and creational capacities of the mind-body complex is an essential component of self-mastery attainment.

However, neither past nor future consciousness projections are "places" and experiences in which we should reside on a full-time basis. They are creational energies to be mastered and used to augment present-moment experience and creational capacities.
 
Present-moment awareness enables our fullest-possible embodiment and expression of Core Self in that moment by way of our thoughts, emotions, behaviors and actions. When we routinely exercise and become masters of our multi-dimensional/multi-timeline functional and creational capacities, we free ourselves from the linear time trap. What we think, feel and do in any given moment become higher-order "timeless" responses to what is occurring within us and around us in the now because they are infused with and empowered by past and potential-future awareness and experience.

ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF YOUR ATTENTION

Present moment awareness is intricately enmeshed with our two energetic "currencies" and how we are investing them. Those two currencies are time and attention. The currency analogy is clearly illustrated in the sayings "spending time" and "paying attention."
 
The information and activities in which we invest our time and attention always generate a return. Your return on investment may well come in the form of knowledge, understanding, skills and empowerment, if you invest wisely.
 
Those of us on a conscious journey of awakening must seek to engage in thoughts and behaviors that stretch and expand our [current level of] consciousness and the capacities of our mind-body complex. Such an effort calls for significant investments of our energy.
 
Our investments of energy (time and attention) become manifest in both ourselves and our reality. The consequences of our energetic investments are always on par with those choices as put forth in the normative ethical theory of Consequentialism and evidenced in the creational principle of Cause and Effect.
 
Those of us who choose to undertake a conscious journey of awakening are each charged with paying attention to and spending our time on things that expand and elevate consciousness to ever higher levels.
 
How are you spending your time? To what and whom are you paying attention? What is the value of the return on your current investments of energetic currency?

CULTIVATE MINDFULNESS

As is the case with our investments of energetic currency, mindfulness is intimately connected with present moment awareness. It is about awakening to truth, life and what it really means to be human.
 
The practice of mindfulness entails maintaining a moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, emotions, actions, bodily sensations and surroundings. It is marked by and revolves around maintaining openness to and curiosity about whatever it is that you're experiencing within and around you.
 
Contrary to various spiritual teachings, mindfulness is not [just] about passive observation of life from within a meditative state. It's about consciously, "actively" observing life and yourself as a way of life, then living it in a way that does not betray the value and significance of every moment while you are in that moment.
 
As a result of the influence of social conditioning and engineering, genetic manipulation and self-irresponsibility, most humans are ego-centered and outcome-driven, operating through deeply entrenched mindsets, associations and therefore habits of thought and behavior born of constant repetition. Conversely, mindfulness is Core Self-centered and process-driven, giving free rein to creativity and intuition and opening us to new information, perspectives and behaviors toward the freedom, progression and upliftment of human consciousness, versus its enslavement, regression and debasement.
 
Mindfulness transforms fear-based, knee-jerk consciousness-regressive reaction into consciousness-progressive, real love-based choices of thought, emotional and behavioral response. It elicits and engenders compassionate, self-responsible creation, as opposed to insensitive, self-irresponsible choices.
 
The practice of mindfulness develops and expands present moment awareness and real love, both being essential to consciousness-progressive creation. Compassionate awareness fosters heart-driven focus, clarity, insights and joy.
 
These translate into reduced stress and anxiety, improvements in physical and mental well being, and greater adaptability to and appreciation for life. Mindfulness empowers not only our ability to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions, but also our ability to help empower others to do the same, resulting in a self-perpetuating consciousness-progressive feedback loop.
 
A few key components in the practice of mindfulness:
 
~ Tune into what you're sensing in the moment—the sounds, sights, smells, tastes and tactile sensations that typically slip past your conscious notice of them.
 
~ Pay close attention to your breathing, especially when you're feeling intense emotions. When you're experiencing intense emotions, do not resist, suppress or react through them.
 
~ Observe and learn to experience your emotions without judgment as to whether they are "good" or "bad," while taking notice of the body areas affected and how they feel (e.g., flushing of the cheeks, tightness in the throat, shaking of the hands, pounding of the heart, burning of the ears, etc.). There is no more powerful means of moving quickly and intelligently through intense feelings than to "lean into" them, rather than resisting or attempting to suppress them as they arise.
 
~ Once the emotion has been fully felt and released, you can readily determine whether it was driven by ego-based fear, or Core Self-based love, facilitating your ability to choose a wise response—one that flows from your higher-order consciousness and intelligence.

Related:

Transitioning to Transcendent Consciousness and Responsible Creation
Thought and Emotion Self-Mastery Basics
5 Key Factors That Impact Your Awakening Journey Progress