Consciousness Series - Peripheral Awareness

Are You Even Woke, Bro? (A Look at Peripheral Awareness)

How many times have you heard the term “woke”? And how many times has it made you roll your eyes so hard you saw your own brainstem?

The thing about consciousness—and why it’s so slippery to define—is that it wears many different hats. In this series, I’d like to expand our awareness and explore what awakening or being “woke” actually means. Spoiler: it’s not just one thing. That’s why this will be a series. We’ll start with the simple and move into the more complex (which often turns out to be… simpler). By the end, everything will be wonderfully unclear. You’re welcome.

Peripheral Awareness: The Lost Art of Noticing

Ever been stuck in a queue behind someone who’s completely zoned out—taking their sweet time like they’re the only human on Earth?

Or watched a kid grab the last slice of cake without a flicker of curiosity about whether anyone else might want some?

Or had a friend marinate themselves in perfume so strong you start tasting it?

Or been in a conversation where someone talks at you for 45 minutes about their dream journal, their childhood chihuahua and their hot yoga injury?

Or had a partner completely miss that you’re upset—like, completely?

This isn’t always selfishness. Sometimes, it’s just a lack of peripheral awareness. That is, the radar isn’t switched on. They simply didn’t notice. Peripheral awareness is a form of conscious awareness. It’s what allows us to be considerate, connected, and aware of context. It’s also what saves us from being flattened by a bus while texting.

The woman lovingly fussing over her kids in the school drop-off zone? Lovely, yes—but not ideal when there are 28 other cars waiting. The person glued to their phone while crossing the street? A walking insurance claim.

Don’t Go Full Jedi (Yet)

Being tuned in to everything is great—to a point. But if I were to suddenly become aware of everyone in the shop, and the traffic, and the weather, and your aura, and whether Mercury’s in retrograde… I’d be curled up under a table in about five minutes.

There’s a balance to awareness, and this is where the Buddhist concept of the Middle Path comes in. Even consciousness needs moderation. We’ll unpack that juicy gem later in the series.

There’s also the flip side: people who struggle to filter awareness. For some, every sound, smell, and flickering light comes in at full volume. This can lead to overwhelm and difficulty focusing—especially common in folks with ADHD or other forms of neurodiversity.

So here’s the first takeaway: awareness isn’t all or nothing. It’s a dial, not a switch.

How’s Your Awareness Dial?

We all have good days and foggy ones. Awareness can be influenced by sleep, food, hormones, screen time, or whether you just tried to assemble IKEA furniture.

But as you move through your day, consider:

• Are you more of a laser-beam or a disco-ball?

• Do you get hyperfocused and block everything out?

• Or do you absorb everything and get frazzled?

Let’s work with that.

If You’re Overstimulated or Struggling to Focus:

Try this candle meditation:

• Light a candle.

• Set a 2-minute timer.

• Stare at the flame. That’s it.

• Breathe with it. Let go of describing it.

• When thoughts pop in (and they will), gently come back to the flame and your breath.

  
  

That’s it. Just two minutes. Do it daily and slowly increase the time if it feels good. You might be surprised at what you learn—or how hard it is to just be with a candle.

(ADHD folks: yes, this might feel like voluntary suffering. That’s okay. Give it a red-hot go anyway. Two minutes won’t kill you.)

If You’re Zoning Out and Missing What’s Around You:

Try adding mindfulness moments to everyday routines.

• In the shower: What does the water feel like? What do you smell?

• Brushing your teeth: What sensations can you actually notice?

• Driving or walking: Are you seeing the trees and buildings, or planning 47 imaginary conversations in your head?

• 
  

Notice when you disappear into thought. Then come back.

We’ve all driven from A to B and wondered how we got there. It's not magic—it's just mental time travel. Bring yourself home.

Bonus: Mindfulness as Social Grace

Peripheral awareness isn’t just a brain skill—it’s a kindness. It helps us notice who might be feeling left out, who needs a hand, or when it’s not the time to launch into a story about your spiritual awakening in a café queue.

It also helps us notice when we need care, rest, or stillness.

Quick Note for the Neurodivergent Among Us

If you live with ADHD or ASD, this stuff might feel extra hard. That’s totally okay. These practices aren’t about “fixing” you or pretending you’re broken—they’re about developing skills that help navigate a society that wasn’t exactly designed with you in mind.

I like to call it “doing what the neuroboring call normal.”

Final Word

Got significant trauma in your background? These practices can still help—but please, check in first. If tuning in to your body or surroundings feels unsafe, don’t push through. Start gently. Support is always allowed.

And if you want to explore more, or get serious about your meditation or mindfulness practice, reach out. There’s a whole buffet of tools and tricks I’d love to share with you.

Let’s keep awakening—but let’s do it kindly, with a twinkle in the eye.