As we enter this course together, let’s define the word Consciousness and explore some important qualities necessary to cultivate and grow it.
Becoming more aware and conscious about who we are requires attention, clarity, creativity, and compassion. We can call these important qualities: Wisdom, Creativity, Love.
While you are awake, you are perceiving reality through your senses and your interface with the external world is filtered through the past accumulated layers of your experiences. I call this state “awareness” based on sensations, emotions, relations, memories, past experiences. Making decisions is part of this aspect of Consciousness; taking decisions, organizing your life, planning events and every little act of life is rooted in this Conscious awareness.
There is also another layer of what I refer to as Consciousness; the ever-present space and soul of everything; this is what some call Eternity, Transcendence, void, God, the spirit that permeates all things, what “holds” the big picture. An autonomous consciousness independent of humans experiencing it.
Wisdom is a combination of theories and of learned facts, with personal direct experiences.
For example:
Wisdom helps you make discerned decisions based on clarity, personal truth and experiences. Wisdom creates a sense of maturity and can lead you to keeping open eyes in your lives. It guides your choices and leads you to reflect on what is right or wrong for you.
The power of having a new idea and acting on what you choose.
Creativity comes from instinct, intuition, from feeling inspired by something or someone. The act of manifesting such creative idea is at the core of this Holistic model, since keeping a good idea inside your mind does not alter the course of your Conscious development. For example, if you feel too static in your life and you think of taking walks each day ~ that is a creative thought. Of course, you would need to act on it to actualize that thought.
If you wonder how to express beauty in your home, and you have the great idea of placing red pillows and curtains in your living room, that is a creative idea which needs to be followed by an action to be made real and uplifting your spirit in real time and space.
Used in this context, Love is a posture of gentleness toward the unfolding of your process and toward yourself.
When you look at your life, at what you like and at what is challenging for you, you attempt to stay in a posture of love or you try at least to remember some tenderness and compassion for the parts of you which are still blocked or shut down. Whatever your realizations are, you try to be gentle with not adding on harsh judgement onto the layers of pain you are acknowledging.
Try to be in a quiet place, take a writing pad, your journal, or your computer.
Try to be real, hearing yourself speak from inside, not with sarcasm but real knowing.
Take a moment and read your notes again. If you feel positive and encouraged by their tone and orientation, that is great. Keep reading them from time to time as they will continue to strengthen you.
If you feel that you have spoken some negative or harsh opinions toward yourself and your life’s process, then, imagine speaking to a younger person, maybe a 10-year-old child. What would you say or convey to such a child? What other words would you use to encourage hope and an attitude of “looking forward” and growth?
Thank you for exploring these qualities in your life.
You may get in touch with other strengths, creative ideas, and you may feel more tenderness toward yourself. If you realize that harsher voices, come up to the surface and you need support, please reach out to share and explore further what feels challenging to you.
We look forward to hearing from you.
In loving awareness,