Your Soul knows best; be still and Observe –
As a little girl I loved observing other people. Whenever we were out, I would try to interpret what people were saying to each other and then see if I could read their emotions and reactions. Obviously this interest overtime lead me to Counselling!
To become the observer in life means becoming aware of ourselves and others. It is the ability to remain neutral about what goes on in the world and to be able to step outside of an emotional upset or heated situation and observe rather than react.
Being the observer is not shutting down or turning off our emotions, but rather having an intense awareness and presence within a situation. It is an openness toward our surroundings and towards one another.
It takes time to observe and understand how we work and react in circumstances. Overtime, this practice has helped me see my life and others more clearly, unencumbered by opinion or desire.
Practising to wear the world and my life as a loose garment, required me to adopt a sense that nothing that happens to me is personal. (Still working on that!!) To remember people come and go and that experiences are always changing, no matter how much I want things to stay the same.
Becoming aware not to define, judge or limit what I am experiencing at any moment has given me a sense of peace within and has helped eliminate stress and fear about my future.
As I step back and practice becoming the observer in life, letting go of my need to control, I can begin to trust that life’s miracles naturally unfold, with or without direct influence from me.
We find peace, not by rearranging the circumstances of our life, but by realizing who we are at the deepest level. – Eckhart Tolle
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
Acting as an observer truly does bring about amazing results. It took me awhile to get the hang of it, but with continued practice, I have come to a place of steady awareness. As you point out in your wonderful post, much of awareness flows around the past remnants of judgment. May your words of encouragement spread loving compassion in ever widening circles.
It has given me amazing results too! It’s great you have seen this in your own life, and as difficult as the practice is at times, its worth the effort. Thankyou so much for your comment.
Or as I like to say, listen more talk less, which helps all of humanity to understand more. Thanks for a lovely post.
Yes talking less is hard for me! and yet, it’s exactly what I need to practice. Thankyou as always. 🙂
That’s quite the talent to have Karen!
Diana xo
Well Im not sure it’s a special talent Diana ha! It’s actually hard work in the making but I get so excited when I actually do it, because I see amazing results. 🙂 Thankyou and have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Karen, for the lovely reflection. It reminds me of that bit of sacred wisdom, “Be in the world, but not of it” and “Be passersby.” And yes, it’s definitely daily and ongoing practice for me, too, but really is wise and helpful, isn’t it? 🙂 Thanks again for the good reminder on this find Friday! Blessings, Jamie
Beautiful quotes Jamie and they speak the truth. Living that truth is just practice each day. Thankyou and blessings to you too.
I especially like your statement of wearing the world as a loose garment. That’s a lovely analogy. I’m trying to find that balance of being more fully present in the moment, yet not becoming caught up in life…if that makes sense.
Yes complete sense. It’s so easy to get caught up in the drama and busyness of life. Observing ourselves amongst this, gives us perspective and a new way to approach life. Thankyou for your comment.
I love “wearing the world as a loose garment” too!
Ditch the spandex and spanx!
Being an observer allows you to true to yourself and not the external world 🙂
Ha yes, ditch those tight clothes! Its way more comfy to be our true self. 🙂 Have a happy Saturday.
And what a powerful close…
Thankyou! That might just need a Giraffe dance 🙂
Karen,
Like you post on observation. A good “look before you leap” process.
We, too, as all creatures, possess a flight or fight response to our enviroment. Our first reaction to an attack, be it physical or verbal, is to strike back. Keeping our emotions in check is vital; because it avoids making mountains out of mole hills, or simply making something out of nothing. Observation gives us the oppportunity to save ourselves or otheres from unnecessary hurts, and salvage relationships.
So, observe before we act. Observing a situation allows a certain virtue to precede an act. And the only good act is one that follows “prudence.”
-Alan
Thankyou Alan, your comment is spot on. Observation does give us opportunity to think before we act unnecessarily, and as our first reaction is to attack or defend ourselves, then it takes a great deal of practice to apply this. Imagine if this was a natural response in our world, there would be such peace!
Amen!
I’m more of an observer as well. It’s funny how you become or have more self awareness by actually observing others. It doesn’t always advantageous though. Some people are just naturally adaptable to every situation without even observations.
Good point Rommel, I have learned a lot by observing others and I think I understand people more from watching their reactions rather from what they are saying. Anyone who is naturally adaptable in life is very lucky, most of us have to work hard at that! Thankyou 🙂