The Influence of Consciousness on Self-Realization

Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dean Graves, and we delved into consciousness (Listen Here). Dean shared his experience as a mental health counsellor and how he has used consciousness to help his clients. We explored how consciousness can help us understand purpose in life through the act of creation. What stood out most from this discussion was how a perspective shift can impact our mental well-being. Most people I have had the opportunity to work with are stuck in the same patterns and behaviours that have led to the problems they are experiencing. Unfortunately, the issues become circular, and people find it extremely challenging to break through the cycle. I do not say this with any judgment, as I, too, was mired in that pattern, and it is a continuous challenge that I need to work through.

Many ideas and speculations surround consciousness, such as what it is, when it emerged, and what it means, and thinking about it can make people feel dizzy. However, it does not need to be overly complicated. As I was reading about Descartes and Gandhi this week, what came to the forefront was their exploration of the truth, and that is where the focus can be. Descartes focused on the eternal soul, while Gandhi sought a spiritual endeavour in coming to face with his Creator. Reflecting on my conversation with Dean, I realized that my biggest takeaway was the pursuit of self-realization, which Gandhi also focused on. Therefore, in this week's edition of EZ Reflections, I wanted to expand on self-realization and prioritize managing our mental health and overall growth.

Mahatma Gandhi and René Descartes approached profound philosophical questions from different cultural and methodological perspectives. Gandhi's exploration of truth was deeply intertwined with his spiritual and ethical views, while Descartes' exploration of the human soul was grounded in his rationalist philosophy.

• Satyagraha: Gandhi developed the concept of "Satyagraha," meaning "insistence on truth" or "soul force." This was not just a political strategy but a way of life. He believed that truth (Satya) is God and can be realized through nonviolent resistance and personal integrity.

• Experiments with Truth: In his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gandhi details his journey in seeking and living by truth. He viewed life as a series of experiments with truth, where one learns through experience and reflection.

Dualism

• Mind-Body Dualism: Descartes posited that the human being is composed of two distinct substances: the mind (res cogitans) and the body (res extensa). The mind is non-material and the seat of consciousness and identity.

Practical Tools:

• Journaling and Content Analysis: Keep a journal documenting daily thoughts, feelings, and actions. Regularly review and categorize entries to identify patterns in your pursuit of truth or personal beliefs.

• Behavioral Tracking: Track behaviors related to personal goals (e.g., acts of kindness, meditation sessions, instances of anger) and outcomes (e.g., mood, productivity).

Supporting Research:

Mindfulness and Mental Health:

• A meta-analysis of 209 studies found that mindfulness-based therapy is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress (Khoury et al., 2013).

• Another study indicated that mindfulness meditation can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD in veterans (Polusny et al., 2015).

Meditation and Emotional Well-being:

• Research by Goyal et al. (2014) reviewed 47 trials and found that meditation programs can result in moderate improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain.

• A study by Creswell et al. (2012) found that mindfulness meditation training improved immune function and reduced psychological stress in adults.

Reflective Journaling:

• A study by Ullrich and Lutgendorf (2002) demonstrated that expressive writing can lead to improved mood, reduced symptoms of depression, and better physical health.

• Research by Pennebaker and Seagal (1999) found that individuals who wrote about their thoughts and feelings regarding traumatic events experienced improved mental health outcomes.

References

1. Khoury, B., Lecomte, T., Fortin, G., Masse, M., Therien, P., Bouchard, V., ... & Hofmann, S. G. (2013). Mindfulness-based therapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(6), 763-771.

2. Polusny, M. A., Erbes, C. R., Thuras, P., Moran, A., Lamberty, G. J., Collins, R. C., ... & Lim, K. O. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 314(5), 456-465.

3. Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E. M., Gould, N. F., Rowland-Seymour, A., Sharma, R., ... & Haythornthwaite, J. A. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 174(3), 357-368.

4. Creswell, J. D., Irwin, M. R., Burklund, L. J., Lieberman, M. D., Arevalo, J. M., Ma, J., & Cole, S. W. (2012). Mindfulness-based stress reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults: A small randomized controlled trial. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 26(7), 1095-1101.

5. Ullrich, P. M., & Lutgendorf, S. K. (2002). Journaling about stressful events: Effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24(3), 244-250.

6. Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243-1254.

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