We’ve been talking a lot lately about the levels of consciousness, how to measure where we’re currently at on the scale of consciousness, and why it matters.
I’ve worked hard to make the topic as digestible as possible, but it can still sometimes take some work to determine how to apply these principles in daily life.
Imagine my joy when I came across the following image on the internet:
As I sent this quote around to a few friends I was surprised at how many responses I received back, saying something along the lines of, “Wow, this is really helpful!”
A few of them then went on to share a specific situation or person where they applied the concept and how it helped them see the moment differently.
One of the key tenets of the levels of consciousness is that we must all go through each of the stages, in their specific order, and there’s no skipping a step, no exceptions.
All of us (unless you’re a self-realized being) began at zero, and so one of the greatest awakenings we can have is to realize that the person we find chronically challenging (because of their beliefs and/or behaviors) is most likely just at a different stage than we’re currently at. Sometimes they’re at a lower stage, sometimes they’re at a higher stage.
In either case, the most helpful thing we can do is pause and get curious.
Why does that person drive me crazy?
Most of society’s arguments at the moment are rooted in the various tribes (political and otherwise) trying to solve the world’s problems from different levels of consciousness.
Setting aside the political elite (who are mostly at Level 1, Dominance) most people just want to live in a world that’s safe and allows them to take care of their families, with minimum suffering for all.
But a Level 2 (Obedience) approach is going to look different from a Level 3 (Ambition) approach, which will also be different from a Level 4 (Sharing) approach.
Eventually we’ll begin to see the wider spread emergence of Level 5 (Responsibility) thinking that will pull us out of the mire, but in the meantime it’s probably best to work on your Spiritual AntiFragility1 and the growth of your own consciousness.
And a simple exercise like the one above can help us do that.
Let’s look at it one more time because it’s so powerful:
Instead of viewing others as ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’ or ‘evil’, simply view them as limited.
Their level of consciousness limits them to unpalatable behaviors and they simply cannot do better considering their current level of understanding and awareness.
They are not bad, they are simply limited.
This small shift in perspective allows you greater peace, greater compassion, forgiveness, and grace.
Remember, the higher you move in consciousness, the less fault you find in others.
That final sentence is so important, and a secret shortcut to every spiritual system known to mankind.
The higher we move in consciousness, the less fault we find in others.
So let’s reverse engineer that: the less fault we find in others, the higher we’ll move in consciousness.
So simple, but not easy.
And yet, when we can see someone in this way, or from this perspective, then we are seeing them the way the Divine sees them. Does the Divine find fault in others?
No.
And so when we see anyone the way the Divine sees them, we are effectively seeing with the eyes of the Divine.
And when we see with the eyes of the Divine, we are becoming more of the Divine, or said another way, the Divine is shining through us.
And this is the entire purpose of growing in consciousness…
to eventually become Divine.
“Is it not written in your own scriptures, ‘I have said YOU ARE “GODS"’?2
-Jesus of Nazareth
What questions do you have about the applying the levels of consciousness to daily life? Let me know in the comment section so I can reply…and so we can cover them in future posts!
We’ll go deeper on many facets of this topic in the coming months. I hope you’ll join us and please invite any friends or family members who share these interests.
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Spiritual AntiFragility is a concept that draws from Nassim Nicholas Taleb's idea of "Antifragility." Taleb used the term to describe systems that actually benefit from shocks, volatility, and uncertainty, as opposed to merely withstanding them (which is resilience) or breaking under them (fragility).
Applying this concept to spirituality can offer us several potential benefits:
Growth through Adversity: Much like an antifragile system, individuals with spiritual antifragility can grow and strengthen their faith or spiritual understanding through difficult experiences. They don't just withstand adversity; they learn from it and use it as a catalyst for spiritual growth.
Inner Peace: An antifragile spiritual perspective can help to foster a sense of inner peace, even amid chaos and uncertainty. This is because it involves recognizing that challenges and changes are part of life and can be sources of growth rather than merely threats to happiness or stability.
Resilience: While antifragility goes beyond mere resilience, it certainly includes it. Spiritual antifragility can help individuals to cope with stress, loss, and hardship, providing a stable foundation even when life is turbulent.
Improved Coping Skills: People with spiritual antifragility often develop improved coping skills, as they learn to see difficulties as opportunities for growth and learning rather than merely as negative events to be endured.
Increased Empathy and Compassion: Experiencing and growing from hardship can lead to increased empathy and compassion for others who are suffering. This can improve relationships and lead to greater community involvement or acts of service.
Greater Appreciation for Life: When one views difficulties as opportunities for growth, it can lead to a greater appreciation for all aspects of life, including the challenging ones.
Enhanced Understanding of Self: The process of growing through adversity often involves deep introspection and self-discovery. This can lead to a better understanding of one's own strengths, weaknesses, values, and beliefs.
John 10:34
Greater compassion forgiveness and grace are all Christian tenants that we should strive for. My concern is for misplaced compassion, like we see in soft on crime cities. Surely justice has a place in a civilized society? Can have compassion and forgiveness while we also seek justice?
Hallelujah and Amen! 🙏