This post relates to Steve's article on
Levels of Consciousness. Steve's descriptions of these stages (which are based on Hawkins' descriptions) are amazingly in-tune with what I've felt at these respective levels.
It seems to me like at every level of consciousness, there's some kind of realization that prompts the shift between levels. Here's my ideas, wherever I feel I've crossed consciousness:
Courage->Neutrality - I realized that a lot of the things I do today aren't very important for where I want to be in the long run. I stopped putting myself up to things like getting good grades in useless classes.
Neutrality->Willingness - At some point I felt like I was completely bored with life because I was doing everything and had everything that I wanted. While searching for answers, I slowly moved from neutrality to willingness over the period of a few months of thinking about things like productivity and finding blogs such as this one.
Willingness->Acceptance - I realized that I have control over my life and that at every moment I have an opportunity to make my own choices and therefore choose my own path. I started analyzing how I feel about where I am and actively made changes to get where I want to be.
After a powerful shift a few weeks ago, I feel very clearly that I'm now at the Acceptance level. I understand that where I am and where I will go is completely a result of decisions that I make and the way that I think. I'm much more honest with myself about where I need to improve and what's most important to me. I also feel more willing to change than ever before. I became vegetarian, eliminated TV/games/youtube from my daily life, started cooking, began exercising daily, adopted a sleeping schedule, among other things that I'm eager to change.
I'd love to hear about what you think you really came to understand that helped push you between levels. Personally, I feel very open to ideas and I'd appreciate any help or tips that worked for you to get beyond Acceptance
