What is Consciousness?

What makes you…you? How would you describe who you are? Are you the things that you own? Are you defined by your career or what you do? Are you a race, gender, physical body, bank account, thoughts, or beliefs? Are you the sum of all your choices? What really makes you who you are? What is your essence, and why does it matter?

There is a lot of talk about consciousness in the recovery world right now. There is the woke movement in politics and government. The recovery and mental health world are chattering about it. The spiritual, the truthers, and new agers all are talking about it. The church has also jumped on board with what they are calling Christ consciousness.

This topic is nothing new and has been around for centuries. British Philosopher John Locke defined consciousness as “the perception of what passes in a man’s own mind.”

Etymology of the word conscious from the Latin means “to know, knowing, to know with, to know about, to know thoroughly”. It is a “state of knowing, a state of awareness.” It also can mean “having joint or common knowledge of another.”

I like to define it as to think about what you are thinking about or as to have an awareness of your existence outside of your body or what I refer to as this meat suit your mind is located in at this present time and space.

Do you know how to make your heartbeat? Do you know how to make your body digest food? Do you know how to make your brain think? Do you know how your brain makes your body move and do what you want it to do?

Most philosophers and now scientists are beginning to realize that the brain and the mind are not the same thing. Your brain is not your mind, and your mind is not your brain. The mind is outside of your body, and your brain can also be referred to as consciousness.

Well, that is all great but what does this word mean? What does it mean to be conscious? Why should you care if the mind is not the brain or the body, and what does it have to do with recovery?

It really has everything to do with recovery. Dr. Joe Dispenza explains this in great detail with extensive research, data, and evidenced-based tools in his books You are the Placebo, Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, and Becoming Supernatural. He illustrates why changing the way we think is so difficult and explains the autonomic nervous system takes over your thoughts, feelings. and behaviors.

This is simply described as the horse or the body. The horse has taken over the rider (you). The horse/ your body is your unconscious state in which you do not think about what you are thinking about. The horse is now in control of you.

The autonomic nervous system can be positive and negative. It is a wonderful thing, as it is the automatic part of you that does not have to think and relearn how to walk, talk, get ready in the morning or drive to work. However, it is also negative in that it has taken over, and you really do not have to think about these things anymore as the rider.

The horse, the body and brain, has taken over the process, and the rider is asleep and unconscious. Your job is to wake up, become conscious, and be aware that you, the rider or the mind, can take back control of the body, the horse, and the brain…and become conscious, aware, and awake again.

Dispenza writes in his book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, “The instant we have a thought, feeling, or reaction, the body runs on automatic pilot. We go unconscious.” He also states that by the age of thirty-five, 95 percent of the population in their daily lives are in this unconscious state!

Begin to TAME yourself/body/brain/horse to become conscious. Think, ask, manage, and examine.

Steps to becoming conscious:

Think about you are thinking about.

Write your negative thoughts down and journal them.
How do these thoughts benefit me?
What is the payoff of having these negative thoughts?

Ask yourself questions about your thoughts.

Is that thought 100% true?
How can I give the person or situation the benefit of the doubt?
Why am I having this negative thought?
Do I have all the data and information?
What is their perspective and reasoning?

Manage and understand that your negative thoughts and feelings are not always accurate or true. Step outside of yourself and observe yourself as if you were watching a movie, playing a character as an actor. Do not let your thoughts and feelings as a character take over the actor. Be the objective observer and look at the situation with logic and reasoning, not your negatively charged emotions.

Examine your thoughts and beliefs.

What would it feel like not having these negative thoughts?
What would my life be like if I had time to think about other things?
Am I addicted to my negative emotions? Why?
How does feeling this way help me?
How would I feel if I had positive thoughts?
What would happen to my life if I changed my belief about this person or situation?

The final step of changing old beliefs is the most difficult, as this takes tremendous courage. We will look next why unlearning is so difficult.

Cory Schortzman Executive Director

Cory Schortzman is an author, speaker, teacher and licensed mental health professional. Since 2008, he has served as the Executive Director of Transformed Hearts Counseling Center in Colorado Springs, CO. He is the founder of SARA, the Sexual Addiction Recovery Association. Cory is passionate about helping couples and individuals overcome sex addiction. He is also passionate about bringing awareness to the public and supporting the elimination of sex and human trafficking. Cory has been married since 1998 to his beautiful wife, Kerry, and lives in Colorado with their four daughters. He and Kerry have been seen on the CBS Early Show, Inside Edition, and ABC Good Morning America, Fox 21 News, and TLC/Discovery discussing the harm of sex addiction and the joys of recovery. He has also been heard on numerous radio programs.

Cory’s books include: Out of the Darkness, Into the Light the Workbook, Into the Light the Steps, Ashes to Beauty the Steps, 301 Dating Ideas, 301 Conversational Ideas, 301 Ways to Say I Love You, 301 Ways to Love Your Children & 301 Recovery Tools & Tips.