GetTheDream

Link: http://www.getthedream.com/more_info.php

Many of us want to raise our level of consciousness. Have you ever thought about the reasons why seekers of a higher consciousness are seeking it?

What’s the point or the ultimate goal that we hope to achieve from becoming more self-aware? Is it to make more money, get a better job, to improve our moods?

First, let’s identify a major difference between people I consider to be unconscious and conscious. Those who are unable to be a witness to their own thoughts and feelings act unconsciously. They respond to their emotions only by instinct. They become trapped in the world of their own thoughts and responses. They are living exclusively “in their head”.

Those who act purely from emotion, without even realizing or acknowledging that emotion, are living a somewhat primal life. This is similar to the way an animal reacts in nature. When hungry, animals kill; when irritated, they lash out; when threatened, they fight, etc.

For example, when an unconscious person gets angry, they yell at someone. They don’t challenge themselves to sit with the emotion and ask, “Why am I feeling this way? What’s really at the root of this emotion I am currently experiencing at this moment?”

Getting to know ourselves and becoming more self-aware means doing some work. It means questioning ourselves about ways of thinking and acting that may be incredibly ingrained in our everyday life patterns. When we take responsibility for our emotions and happiness, we are living more consciously.

When we take the opportunity and time to learn about ourselves, we become happier, and so do the people in our lives. We find that our time is spent more efficiently. Instead of creating drama and brooding over “issues”, we spend time on what truly matters. We get a great deal more accomplished, because we put more value on our time when living consciously.

When we are conscious, we seek people and create situations that make us feel great. And in turn, we attract more like-minded people and situations that ultimately bring us good.

I believe we should raise our consciousness foremost because we can. As human beings, we have been endowed with the ability to move above and beyond a primal emotional life. This doesn’t make us superior to beautiful plants and animals that cannot do this. We simply have a different genetic makeup.

Our left brain thinking, labeling, blaming, questioning and judging that we experience can be our greatest asset or our greatest downfall. We can choose to “buy in” to all the mind chatter or to be a witness to it and question its truth.

We should raise our consciousness to make ourselves and the people in our lives as happy as possible. Happiness is a different concept for each of us. For some it may come from the ability to quiet our thoughts and worries for the attainment of inner peace. Maybe it’s being present and living harmoniously on a daily basis with loved ones. Or perhaps happiness is the elimination of stress for a lighter and healthier existence.

The great artist Salvador Dali said, “Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” We may not be capable of perfection, but we owe it to ourselves, the people we love, and all of humanity to achieve our highest level of spiritual progress humanly possible.

Link: http://getthedream.com/blog/

Wouldn’t you agree that we are all selfish to some degree? Many equate selfishness with self-preservation. But those who are seeking a higher spiritual existence or improved emotional health should analyze selfishness and its root causes carefully.

When we are concerned primarily with our own interests and benefits regardless of others, we are being selfish. Selfishness means that we serve our own pleasure regardless of how our actions affect others. The opposite of selfishness is altruism, which is the self-less concern for the welfare of others.

A selfish person doesn’t have room in their thoughts or considerations for others. They are completely self-absorbed. To be self-absorbed is to have tunnel vision on yourself and your own personal needs. In short, a selfish person’s entire world is completely about themselves. They don’t have the ability to imagine the thoughts and feelings of others. They have little or no ability to empathize.

A selfish person feels overly entitled to have their idea of a “perfect” life.
They crave attention and have a need to be seen and heard more than anyone else. They become oblivious to what others need or say.

Selfish people are like children in that they have not yet learned to balance giving with taking. They view others only as a means to get what they want.
And they demonstrate drastic mood swings related to whether they get their way or not. There’s elation when they “win” and despair and arrogance when their demands are not met.

Selfish people become threatened when attention is paid to others. They have difficulty letting other people win, get accolades, or be admired. They can not listen to someone’s opinions, stories, or advice without turning it back to themselves. They are not truly sincere when they wish someone else success.

Selfish people have a need for control and are not willing to reach compromises with others. When they need something they’re willing to trample over others to make sure they get it. Cutting in line, storming into a room unannounced, or having a temper tantrum are a few of the many types of selfish behaviors one can exhibit.

Let’s be clear about what selfishness is not. It’s not self-promotion, self-respect, self-admiration, self-esteem, or self-love. These terms describe behavior that most of us consider healthy, productive, and not harmful to others.

Why are selfish people selfish? The answer is that they feel deprived of something. This deprivation may exist in either their consciousness or in their subconscious mind. They believe that they got “the wrong end of the stick” and now someone (or everyone) owes them payback. There is a sense of entitlement and expectation that justifies their bad behavior.

The feeling of deprivation drives the selfish to behave in ways that they believe will insure the end of deprivation. To others, their behavior could be described as arrogance. The roots of selfishness usually come from unhealthy or negative childhood experiences that shape our thought patterns.

For example, children of divorced parents can become selfish because they find the love of a missing parent only through the gifts that they receive from them. So they make demands of the parent to substitute for the parent’s time and attention. The child may discover that their demands are met, and so they learn that they can easily manipulate the parent.

Do you recognize some or many of the characteristics of selfishness in yourself? If so, you have accomplished a very important first step with that simple recognition. Each of us must take responsibility for our inner motivations and external behaviors. We are living a healthy and full life only when we are able to consider what’s truly best for others, instead of how others can be of benefit to us.