Have you read Eckhart Tolle's latest book, A New Earth - Awakening to Your Life's Purpose? Upon completion of the book I was inspired by the author's message and ability to synthesize different levels of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual consciousness. I was in harmony with the life purpose that he asks us aspire to: a life focused on awakening to our own true spiritual reality, transforming our lives from a dysfunctional ego-based consciousness to finding fulfillment and happiness in an awakened consciousness that leads to a more peaceful and functional existence.
 
From all of that important material, I was particularly drawn to the concept of 'awakened doing'. Without having read Tolle's book, you can still find significance in the three modalities, intended to elevate one's vibrational energy, which is the path toward inner serenity and joyfulness.
According to Tolle, 'awakened doing' consists of three ways to experience each moment of our day: acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm. The idea is to attain a level of neutral to more positive feelings about our daily tasks, activities, relationships and goals so that we take responsibility for living in our higher consciousness and positively influence our energy or energetic vibration.
 
Each of the three ways of experiencing 'awakened doing' may become more significant in particular situations, areas or stages of our lives. Our responsibility is to stay awake and intend to operate within acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm. Tolle states that if we are not in one of the three, then we may be creating suffering for ourselves and others.
 
Acceptance:
 
Let's face it, there are many tasks and situations where you could feel bored, resentful, or even discouraged. What would happen if you adopt a perspective that your only control may be to choose the quality of how you experience the situation so that in the moment you focus on doing it willingly and finding some peace in the realization?
Doing dishes..  boring, perhaps? How about focusing on the feel of the suds or the shapes and colours of the dishes or focus on the contribution you are making. If you can't do the task without bad feelings then stop.
Or your adolescent is rude and abrupt in a certain interaction. If you focus on the teen's developmental stage of separation and rebelliousness with the goal of becoming an individual, perhaps you can feel acceptance and work out the unwanted behaviour in a helpful manner.
 
Enjoyment:
 
Think of the last time that you really enjoyed yourself. Notice the aliveness in your body and your feelings in that moment! Likely most children experience enjoyment much more frequently than adults. Perhaps we tend to get bogged down by work and responsibilities and all the disease and stress that go along with that burden. Imagine if your real life purpose is to experience enjoyment - to create it, find it and follow it.  Start by putting yourself in situations that bring out your playfulness. Hang out with people who make you laugh. Let go of any beliefs that keep you stuck in such ruts as scarcity thinking, perfection and pleasing others. Do whatever you can and as frequently as you can, to create enjoyment, within your present life situation.
 
Enthusiasm:
 
If you have made it this far, then you are ready for the challenge! So far, you have focused on feeling acceptance of daily life situations, and in many of those interactions you are experiencing pleasurable enjoyment. What about living with enthusiasm? Have you ever thought about what creates enthusiasm for you? I am a small 'g' person when it comes to goal setting so Tolle's explanation was a good fit for me.
According to Tolle, if we find and expand on something that is very important to us, which becomes our goal, and we live our goal with enjoyment, we are experiencing enthusiasm!
My husband and I enjoy basketball, today as spectators and as players in our youth. My husband took his enjoyment to another level by becoming a coach. He is now striving to help young boys develop their strengths, talents and team awareness. He now experiences basketball with enthusiasm while I enjoy his positive energy for the sport!
Find something that is important to you, that expands your enthusiasm and experience the strong positive energy.
 
By living consciously within 'awakened doing' you can use the feelings of acceptance, enjoyment and enthusiasm as a gauge or signpost to help you discover what consciousness you are living, ego-based or spirit-based. Each time you choose to be in your true spirit or higher self, you shine your beautiful light, connect to the wisdom of your heart and create a strong energetic vibration. Isn't this the highest contribution you can make to a more peaceful and harmonious world?