Consciously

Consciously is an adverb describing an action performed with awareness, intention, or deliberation. It implies that a person is paying attention to what they are doing and considering possible outcomes. Consciously can also indicate that someone is aware of their surroundings, their beliefs, or a principle guiding their behavior. The term is often contrasted with actions done automatically or subconsciously.

The word derives from the adjective conscious, which in turn comes from Latin conscientia meaning "with knowledge" or "having knowledge of" and entered English through Old French. The adverbial suffix -ly was added to form consciously.

In use, consciously frequently appears in discussions of choice, self-discipline, and moral responsibility, as well as in psychology and everyday life to denote intentionality. It is commonly paired with verbs such as decide, choose, avoid, or act: for example, "She consciously decided to slow down," or "They consciously avoided the topic." It can also appear in phrases like "consciously aware" or "consciously mindful," emphasizing deliberate attention.

Examples include: She consciously slowed her pace to match the child’s step. He consciously chose to forgive rather than retaliate. The study examined brain activity when participants were acting consciously versus unconsciously.

See also: conscious, unconscious mind, mindfulness, intentionality.