If Awareness Is Supposed to Help, Why Don’t I Feel Better?
I asked myself this question after years of therapy, reflection, and doing what people usually call “the work.” I wasn’t avoiding anything. I could name my patterns, trace their origins, and explain my reactions clearly. On the surface, that should have been enough. It wasn’t. Instead of relief, awareness gave me accuracy. I understood myself better, but my body didn’t calm down. I was still tense, still tired, still alert in situations that didn’t actually require it. That disconnect forced me to look at something I had misunderstood for a long time: what awareness is actually for . What Awareness Really Does (and What It Doesn’t) Awareness is often treated like a solution. In practice, it’s closer to a diagnostic tool. Awareness helps you: Recognize patterns Name internal states Understand why certain reactions exist Awareness does not: Regulate your nervous system Undo conditioning Automatically change your responses This is where many people get stuck. They expect awareness t...
