Self Awareness is important.  In fact, it is the primary reason we’re all here: The actual point of life is to develop and increase our Self Awareness.  In this post, I’ll discuss some of the finer points of Self Awareness – some common-sense, actionable points which many overlook.

What is Self Awareness?

Self Awareness is ‘the development of an Awareness of the Self’.  (I am not trying to be ‘flippant’ with that answer! 😊)

What the above question & answer really lead to is an even bigger question:  What is the Self?

Most people think the answer to that question is all about the brain.  They think of the ‘Self’ as ‘I’.  I am this.  I do that.  I think these things…

This is a misunderstanding of the Self; of who we are; why we’re here; and the true nature of the actual power we humans have at our disposal.

Let’s Define the Self

Here’s the short and fundamental answer to the question, ‘What is the Self?’:  The Self is the real you, the one with which you’re likely unfamiliar, and consists of several different aspects of you, of which you also are likely unfamiliar.

The Self: 1) keeps you alive, 2) drives your thoughts, motivations, decisions, and actions, and 3) is consists of the parts of you which actually experience the world.

(Incidentally, none of the functions mentioned directly above involve the brain.  The brain is simply a computer.  It is connected to both you and to the source of all information.  And, like a computer, its abilities are limited to the analysis of information.  So, good info in, good info out and bad info in, bad info out.  But, unlike a computer, the brain’s analysis can be flawed, as it is subject to and influenced by personal knowledge and wisdom, and the Ego self.)

The longer answer to the question, ‘What is the Self?’, will be the subject of another post in which I’ll offer more detail about the different components of the Self.  There are several.

The key takeaway though, will be this: You are God.  (An out of left-field statement, I know, but I felt it important to include it here.  It is true.)

That aside, in this writing, I’ll be discussing some of the more advanced aspects of Awareness.

The Two Sides of Self Awareness

So, where does one begin?  How does one begin walking the hallowed path to Self Awareness?

Start at the beginning, of course!

And the beginning is not hidden.  It is not some big secret.  It is available for all to see.  But there is a catch.  First, you’ll need to understand the aspects of Self Awareness.

Aspects?

Most people don’t realize there are 2 aspects to Self Awareness: Inner Awareness and Outer Awareness. 

And, these 2 components relate to the 2 aspects of our world – the Physical aspect (the seen – Outer Awareness), and the Spiritual aspect (the unseen – Inner Awareness).

This can create confusion, even for those already on the path of Self Awareness.  Some people master Inner Awareness while ignoring Outer Awareness.  This might apply to those already on the path to higher Consciousness.

Others become good at Outer Awareness but completely ignoring the Inner Self, their Inner Awareness.  These folks usually are not yet actively seeking higher Consciousness through their innate Spirituality.

And then there are those who are oblivious to both Inner and Outer Awareness.

To be a good citizen and a good neighbor, as well as an advancing and expanding Spiritual being – one who’s able to fully engage with and use their innate creative power – it is critical to develop both aspects of Self Awareness.

The Ego self Plays a Role

We all have desires.  We want what we want.  And those desires create the experiences that become our lives.

For most people, almost all their desires emanate from the Ego self.  This is because they’re not hearing the voice of their True Self; they haven’t yet reached that level of Self Awareness.

Then, there are those with a higher level of Awareness, a level that allows them to, in the midst of all the noise created by the Ego self, hear the suggestions from the True Self.

This is how geniuses like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Steven Jobs have changed our world.  They followed the inner inspiration from their True Self, and then properly used the energy from the Ego self to bring their inspirations from thoughts, to reality.

This is the creative process in action.  This is the what the life experience is all about.

These experiences are how Consciousness grows and expands and we’re all part of Consciousness.  Each of us adds to Consciousness in our own way.

The Golden Rule

There is a catch, though, which is entirely created by the Ego self.  Problems arise when the actions we take in pursuit of our desires affect and impose upon the desires, actions, and experiences of others… Without their consent.

Prior consent, implied or actual, is a big thing!

Thousands of years ago, something called the Golden Rule was established: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.  Meaning, treat others as you would like to be treated.

Certainly, this is a nice rule to live by.  However, it really needs some updating.  It needs a couple of additions, qualifiers to make it more current, more practical.

Things change.  Our world and the universe are always changing.  Change is inevitable.

Change is constant.  Change is good. 

The practice holding tightly to edicts and norms established thousands of years ago is entirely counter-intuitive and is contrary to the ways of the universe and Consciousness itself.

To avoid change is a hindering and unnecessary limitation we’ve imposed upon ourselves.  This myopia is born of fear, which is the domain of the Ego self. 

It is never good to succumb to the fear-based whims of the Ego self.

Let’s Update The Golden Rule

So, getting back to the Golden Rule… It’s time to bring this notion up to date.  

These are 2 important additions which, when applied, will make it more practical, more meaningful, and will help bring us all to higher Consciousness.  These are the 2 additions I propose to help make the world a better place for all:

• ‘D - B - I - T - W’ – Don’t Be In The Way, and

• Do not involve others in your life – in any of your choices or actions – unless and until you have their prior and specific permission to do so.

In the rest of this post, I’ll be talking about Outer Awareness and the first of those additions: ‘Don’t Be In The Way’.  I’ll discuss the second addition in a later post, as it’s a big topic in itself.

D B I T W

The concept, ‘Don’t Be In The Way’, seems simple enough, but there are many who have a problem with even this, mostly for 2 reasons.

This first reason goes directly to Self Awareness.  Many people lack Outer Awareness.  They are not consciously aware of themselves, of their physical body in time and space.  

And, this lack of Awareness includes the impact and effect they have upon others, be they strangers, friends, or family members.

The second reason people have a problem with Don’t Be In The Way can be a bit more sinister.  It often involves a more subtle motivation, which is an aspect of Inner Awareness.  Some folks make a deliberate attempt to block another from doing whatever it is they’d like to do. 

This would include very basic things like deliberately not moving out of the path of someone trying to navigate a crowded area to get to the restroom, to the more complex, like blocking another from moving ahead in their job. 

Here’s an example of the former.  It is likely that we’ve all seen this example and some reading this might even be guilty of doing this:

Think about the narrow aisles of a grocery store.  Have you ever seen a person blocking others from freely moving down the aisles, unknowingly taking up the entire aisle with themselves and their grocery cart, even as 3, 4, or even 8 other people wait to walk passed?

To avoid creating this problem, they’d simply have to place their cart away from the center of the aisle.  But, they’re either distracted, or temporarily oblivious to their surroundings and don’t even look up.

Once they do, they usually quickly move the cart to the side, allowing the others to navigate by.  This is an example of remaining Aware – of Outer Self Awareness.

Here’s another example, one that occurs regularly: Driving too slowly in the passing lane of a higher speed road, like an interstate or highway.  This could be a deliberate act or one born of obliviousness.  Either way, a lack of Self Awareness is involved.

In the USA, the left lane is for passing.  By nature, this means that those in the left lane would have to exceed the posted speed limits. 

(In the USA, it is time to change the laws to properly allow for passing on a crowded road.  But, government officials here refuse to address the obvious.  What’s the fix?  Very simple: Different speed limits for the various lanes on the highway; a higher speed limit for the passing lane, and lower one for the entrance/exit lane.)

There are some who move to the left lane simply because they feel more comfortable there.  But they have no intention of passing.  As previously noted, passing is the purpose of the left-hand lane.

By not passing, these folks are the cause for increased traffic, accidents, and delays.  They disrupt the smooth flow of cars on the highway.  This would be an example of being unaware of their environment – Outer Awareness.

Then, there are those who feel like it is their job to ‘police’ others, even though their job is not law enforcement at all.  They want to control the behavior of others because they are uncomfortable or disapprove of that behavior – usually out of fear.

These folks move to the left lane and deliberately drive too slowly, thinking they are doing the right thing.  This satisfies their need for control.  It makes them feel better.  In reality, they’re just in the way and this is an example of a lack of both Inner Awareness and Outer Awareness.

The Reality

Those who deliberately block others from doing what they want is a misuse of their creative power.  I know this will be controversial but… This is true even when the other person is ‘breaking the law’.  The exception would be when the intent is physical violence against another.

It is not our place to block another from doing what they want – unless there is a real threat of intended physical violence.  To do so is a misunderstanding of Consciousness and a misuse of personal power.

It is best to simply let others do what they want.  Let them have their way, as they are pursuing their dreams.  This is part of the ‘circle of life’.

To stand in the way (to block someone else from attaining their desires, even when you disagree with those desires) is contrary to Consciousness; contrary to God; and is the opposite of the way the universe works.

And there’s an even more compelling reason to become conscious of this: Karma.  Karma dictates that when you stop another from pursuing their dream, you will also feel some sort of negative consequence, like the delay of your dream becoming reality.

So, the moral of this story is: Don’t Be In The Way.  You have no knowledge of why others are doing what they do.  You likely don’t know their internal motivations, what is driving them.

Standing in their way, blocking them from proceeding, unless physical violence is their intent, goes against the Golden Rule. 

Would you want someone to stop you from pursuing your desires and goals?