My friend Richard has it exactly right: Developing your skill at casually accessing a state of expanded awareness is mostly a matter of practice. And the results of doing so can be impressive. As he says, “When you step onto the path to expanded awareness your life begins to change and more tools become consciously available to you”:
http://thesacredpath.wordpress.com/2007/04/01/expanded-awareness-in-everyday-life/#more-24