5 Ways To Increase Your Consciousness

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word Consciousness means “the condition of being conscious: the normal state of being a...

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word Consciousness means “the condition of being conscious: the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you.” Heightening our consciousness in my own words means to further understand ourselves and the world we live in and actually applying that knowledge in our actions.

Here are 5 ways that can help you raise your consciousness:

1. Be Here Now

 

“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” – Bil Keane

The term “Be Here Now” is most commonly attributed to the spiritual teacher Ram Dass or otherwise known as Richard Alpert; the one time Harvard professor turned LSD enthusiast turned spiritual guru. This phrase is the title of his popular book and means exactly the way it sounds. The main philosophy of be here now is to live with a present moment awareness. Too many times we get caught up in dwelling in the past or becoming anxious of the future that it deteriorates our living in the present which is really the only reality there is. There are many ways one can snap back into the present, whether that be through mindfulness meditation or simply recognizing your breathe. This is achievable at any given moment. Once fully engaged in the moment, one’s focus and appreciation for life is enhanced.

2. Challenge Yourself

 

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

In life we are frequently presented with multiple options of roads to take; the hard way or the easy way. The easy way tends to be more secure and an already paved path. The hard way on the other hand, usually is uncertain and has a lot of fear involved. In order to progress, we must learn to step out of our comfort zone and plunge ahead into the unknown. In my experiences of tackling my fears, there comes about unexpected rewards and life lessons. This is also a cornerstone for building confidence.

3. Read, Read, And Read.

 

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” – Joseph Addison

The more knowledge one attains, the more wisdom one can apply. Back in the day, reading was considered a luxury. Now almost every human being learns to read at a young age. Reading blossoms our imagination and teaches us about the world we live in. With technology the way it is, we are able to widespread information within a blink of an eye. The more we read, the more we can contribute and become far more interesting people to communicate with. I make it a goal to read at the very least 30 minutes a day (usually it goes on much longer).

4. Conscious Consuming

 

“Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” – Anna Lappé

I am an advocate for self-sustainability but I am also a realist in understanding how society regulates around me with its consumerism ways. Consumerism isn’t necessarily a bad system as long as what we are consuming is healthy for ourselves and the greater good of all living beings. I look at being a conscious consumer as a power we all have. Anything we put our money into is also us putting our vote towards that thing and all that it is associated with. For me, being a conscious consumer means buying local, small business, organic, sustainably-sourced, fair-traded, and eco-friendly goods & services. By being a conscious consumer, we give the power to the people rather than corrupt corporations.

5. Create

 

“The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” – Alan Alda

When studying oneself, one begins to learn that we are alive to create. We create dreams into existence. To raise your consciousness, you need to find an outlet for expressing your creative side. Finding this outlet will allow you to bring to life all kinds of emotions and feelings that have been bottled up within you. Being able to create allows you to be free. We all have an artist within ourselves wanting to shine light onto the world.