When we transcend the lower levels of consciousness — such as shame, guilt, fear, anger and sadness — and move to higher levels of consciousness, such as courage, love, joy, peace and ultimately enlightenment, we move from darkness to light."
What Are Levels of Consciousness?
Consciousness can be seen as a scale. At the low end are destructive states such as shame, guilt, fear and anger. At the higher end are empowering feelings such as courage, love, joy and peace.
Dr. David R. Hawkins, in his book Power vs. Force, describes how each level affects us. Lower levels weaken us mentally and emotionally, while higher levels lift us up and strengthen our inner power.
The Lower Levels: Weakening States
Shame is considered the lowest level of consciousness. It brings feelings of humiliation and hopelessness, sometimes leading to despair. Carl Jung once said:
"Shame is a soul eating emotion."
Closely related to shame is guilt, another destructive state that sucks away mental strength. Together, shame and guilt can pull a person into their darkest moments, where immediate support is crucial.
Other weakening states include apathy, sadness, fear, and anger. The deeper we sink into these levels, the weaker we become mentally and emotionally.
As George S. Patton said:
"I don’t measure someone’s success by how high they climbs, but how high they bounces when they hit bottom."
The Higher Levels: Lifting States
At the level of courage, things change. Life is no longer hopeless or frightening, but instead becomes exciting and full of possibilities. Hawkins described this as the level of empowerment, determination and accomplishment.
Above courage are neutrality, willingness, acceptance, reason, love, joy, peace and ultimately enlightenment. These are the levels at which our inner strength grows, at which we create a life rooted in positivity and meaning.
The Only Way Is Up
If you’ve ever hit rock bottom, remember — there is only one way left to go: upward. Every step toward a higher level of consciousness improves the quality of your life.
The level of consciousness from which we live determines the lens through which we see the world. Fear and anger cloud life with struggle, while love, joy, and peace illuminate it.
💡 Rise above lower states.
Your quality of life is shaped by the level of consciousness you live from. Learn how to transcend fear and embrace higher states in "You Are the Thought Whisperer".
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