Corrine Barraclough: Why we need to be more ‘conscious’
When Gwyneth Paltrow announced she was “consciously uncoupling” from Chris Martin, she was cynically mocked. But maybe we should be doing more things “consciously’.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When Gwyneth Paltrow announced she was “consciously uncoupling” from Chris Martin, the concept of “consciously” doing anything arrived into the mainstream.
Unfortunately, any idea coming from the woman who’s brought us the loony Goop wellness brand is greeted with cynicism.
So, at the time the whole debacle was loudly ridiculed and swiftly became shorthand for pretentious.
But, unlike some of the more bonkers concepts to have been launched with her lifestyle brand, the idea of “consciously uncoupling” is a good one. Rather than a traumatic, stressful divorce, this was one that was coolly considered. Surely this is a more commendable approach than high drama — especially when there are children involved?
If more people consciously uncoupled, years of bitter family court feuding might be lessened — or avoided entirely. And rather than turning to the hellishly inefficient CSA, exes could arrange a private agreement themselves. In theory it could remove a lot of heartache.
Living consciously is a way of life — and it takes practice; ask Russell Brand. It means making choices deliberately and intentionally. Day to day, it involves calmly choosing responses rather than angrily knee-jerking reactions, and plotting your path mindfully.
This is the ultimate “living in the moment” because you’re slowing down the way you react to the world around you.
All of our choices are statements about our priorities. So focusing energy on making decisions as consciously as possible means you can stay on course rather than making a string of haphazard bad decisions you may soon regret. As Neale Donald Walsch said: “A life lived of choice is a life of conscious action. A life of chance is a life of unconscious creation.”
This is why you find books on becoming a “Conscious Millionaire”. Unless you get lucky on the lotto, reaching such lofty goals takes an immense investment of focus.
“Conscious Parenting” is a way of transforming the way you raise children by changing your own perspective. “Conscious Marketing” explores clever manipulation through advertising for maximum impact.
The world begins to look very different when you observe life as a series of conscious choices rather than flying through on autopilot.
Imagine choosing a job you really wanted rather than one that cropped up. Or, choosing what you eat rather than chowing down by habit. Did you carefully select your partner or did you fall into a relationship and then find you had settled for less than you truly wanted? Are you really aware of where your money goes or does it just keep vanishing from your bank account?
How about time — is that wasted or well spent? The concept of “conscious spending” applies to money and time. When you’re really conscious, you notice everything that is happening, almost in slow motion.
It’s the opposite of a soap opera and certainly wouldn’t make for gripping movie scripting. There would be no emotional outbursts, no slamming doors and no spur of the moment dangerous liaisons. If Brad Pitt had lived more consciously he would still be married to Jennifer Aniston (and we all know that’s the way that story should have ended if only he had better impulse control).
The word itself comes from the Latin “conscius”, which means “knowing or aware”. Of all the thoughts that fly through our minds, living this way means letting a lot go and choosing to settle on the ones that will serve you best. For every 20 thoughts that flicker through, there may be one good one you select as being productive to pursue.
If Labor MP Emma Husar was paying more conscious attention, she may have decided to go see Bruno Mars when she wasn’t already in town on government business, paid for with taxpayers’ money.
She could have saved herself a lot of anxiety — and saved the rest of us from another monotonous chorus that “there should be more women in Parliament”.
You see, living more consciously could benefit us all.