Consciousness: A Matter of Attitude
by Marc Sullivan
A simple definition of human consciousness would be the sum of all that a person is aware of at any given moment. What we're aware of is entirely determined by our attitude in that moment. How does that work?
We exist in an unseen river of consciousness containing universal knowledge. In effect all the knowledge in the Universe; everything there is to know. In Physics terminology this is the Unified Field that underlies our reality, and it is comprised of pure knowledge and information. Why then aren't we able to continuously access that information?
Sometimes we access a portion of it. We all have flashes of intuition and sometimes premonitions that, if we're receptive, can be of great guidance. Some of us have learned to cultivate their intuition through paying close attention to the "messages" they receive. Most of us, unfortunately, have dismissed our intuition for so many years that it's gone under our "radar" and out of our day-to-day awareness. We listen only when the message comes through with great force and clarity — and even then we may not pay attention.
Everything in the universe has a vibrational frequency. Some things vibrate at a lower frequency, others at higher ones. This includes human beings. On a general basis the information we receive is limited by our receptiveness, or acceptance, which to a great degree regulates our personal frequency, or what we as individuals vibrate to at any given moment. Since we are blessed with both consciousness and intellect, human beings have the ability to make deliberate choices that affect their personal vibratory frequencies. If we're really serious about it we can also choose to learn and practice proven techniques for raising those frequencies. These practices form the foundations of mysticism.
Our receptiveness is defined by what information we're willing to accept, and is limited by the information we would deny. Ultimately this comes down to attitude. If we don't consciously choose to accept that anything is possible, and most of us don't, then we will not be open to receiving knowledge that falls into the realm of what we accept, or decree, as impossible. Rejection of possibilities and insistence on impossibilities is an ego-driven limitation, whereas the acceptance that anything really is possible is a key step toward raising awareness, and an important factor to spiritual growth. Acceptance has the effect of raising our vibration, and the higher our vibration the more receptive we'll be to receiving information that reaches beyond our intuition.
Have you noticed how hard it is to communicate with someone in a state of fear, or anger? If we're vibrating at a higher level than they are it's going to be very hard for them to understand us, unless we are somehow able to verbally bridge the awareness "gulf" between us. Even then it's impossible to convey concepts like unconditional love to someone in a state of fear or rage. They can't understand it because they cannot in the limitations of their state of awareness accept it. The concept is outside their consciousness while in that consciousness-limiting state.
If we're open and receptive, pathways of spontaneous knowledge will automatically open to us. I've personally observed how this works. As I become more accepting of all possibilities I receive more and more information, some of it on topics I hadn't even considered before. This information typically takes the form of sudden insights and revelations. A-ha moments, if you will. Other times I've received what I would categorize as "downloads" in the form of large amounts of information, sometimes enough to fill a book. One moment I haven't even considered the topic, and in the next moment it's like I've read an entire book on it. If I had dismissed the possibility of this even happening, would it have happened?
It's important to point out there is a difference between acceptance and belief. Beliefs are by nature self-limiting through being exclusionary: one can't believe in two conflicting ideas at once without conflict. Accepting that anything is possible doesn't impose such limitations or create any conflicts. It enables one to accept the possibility, for example, that things presented as truths may not, in fact, be true. Being completely open to all possibilities is a form of discernment, and in the acceptance state it becomes easier to discern what's true and what's not because we can more easily tap into that higher knowledge base.
If we're to expand our awareness to a significant degree, we need to change our self-limiting attitudes. To be receptive to knowledge contained in the all-encompassing river of consciousness we have to vibrate at a level similar to the knowledge we seek. If we limit our thinking through a limited attitude then how can we be open to possibilities contained in that knowledge base? If we're not open to something then we can't vibrate with it, and if we can't vibrate with it, we won't receive information about it or in many cases even be aware of its existence.
If you're interested in further studies in consciousness, I highly recommend the landmark book "Power vs Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior" by David Hawkins MD, PhD.
