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Analysis Of Nathaniel Branden 's ' The Art Of Living '

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"The Art of Living Consciously: The Power of Awareness to Transform Everyday Life," Nathaniel Branden challenges his readers to turn up the light of consciousness, explaining that consciousness exists on a continuum, and our choice is between living more or less consciously. Consciousness is our basic tool for successful modification to reality. The more conscious we are in any situation, the more possibilities we tend to notice, the more options we have, the more powerful we are, even the longer we will live. To deny oneself of consciousness is to live unconsciously, "in a life drained of color, excitement or passion." Living consciously means seeking to be aware of everything that abides on our actions, purposes, values, and goals; …show more content…

Branden 's facility in explaining these subjects is inspirational; he has many visions into the subject matter, and it is often enlightening to see how he introduces these ideas to the inexperienced. Chapter two explains the free will as a function of mental focus, the fact that context determines what level of focus is appropriate, how one learns to run some activities on automatic and the motives for fleeing focus. Branden 's technique of sentence completion, familiar from his previous works, is also explained here. Chapters one and two are the basis for Branden 's theory by exploring the nature of human consciousness and its suitable association to reality. Chapters three and four describe in detail the meaning of full consciousness and its connection to happiness. Chapter three takes up the need to consider the consequences inferred in one 's actions, the need to consider the knowledge required for success, and the need to cope feelings that pull one away from focus. Chapter four first deals with areas that one must bring consciousness, including romantic, familial, and professional relations, and then with the need for a consciousness of one 's context and ideas. Chapter five strains the importance of directing awareness toward the details of one 's "inner world", the body, needs, wants, emotions, and actions.

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