1. Point of No
Return
As soon as you take the first step on the path to awakening,
you're already past the point of no return. Although you might
want to change your mind and get off this crazy ride, it's a one
way trip down the rabbit hole.
Once you begin,
there's no turning back…
2.
Awakening is Messy
Since awakening requires that we move from unconscious to
conscious in all areas of life, specific issues
will naturally arise in order to show you where you are asleep,
and oftentimes, this can feel like all your "shit hitting the
fan" - an industrial size fan...!
For instance, life
issues will point out the prevalence of unconscious behaviors,
especially those behaviors that are used to gain approval or
acceptance from others.
No matter how messy
awakening might be, don't worry, you can count on Mr. Clean
(aka Mr. Truth) to clean up the mess with his giant mop
and pail - and once your consciousness is sparkly clean, you
might even be able to eat off the floor!
3. Complete
Internal Overhaul
Although everyone's path is unique, no one awakens until they
let go of the constructs and beliefs that have kept them asleep
and on auto-pilot.
Therefore, somewhere
on the journey of awakening, you will need courage and
willingness to examine and re-examine everything you once
believed to be true, including,
Consequently, when
you begin to see through all the illusions that have been
constructed by systems, religions, traditions, etc…, you may
question everything, and you might even come to the
conclusion that all beliefs are false.
No doubt, as you
dissemble the
construct of reality, you will likely find
yourself on shaky ground, and in fact, based on earthquake
standards, the shaky ground could measure anywhere between a 6.3
and 8.0 on the Richter scale.
4.
Resistance is Futile
Yes, you have 'free-will'
to resist the process of awakening at any point.
However, whether you
like it or not, once you begin the journey, life circumstances
will relentlessly push you toward awakening. So, not only is
resistance futile, the more you resist, the more difficult life
becomes.
Therefore, it's
highly suggested to pack a white flag in your emergency kit -
and don't be afraid to use it.
Since the
Universe is conspiring for your awakening,
surrender does not mean giving
up or losing the battle, and, in fact, every time you surrender
to a Higher Power, you'll be one step closer to awakening.
5.
Emotional Roller Coaster
Make no mistake, walking the path of awakening can be an
emotional roller coaster ride.
Like clockwork,
unhealed past trauma and emotional wounds that have been stuffed
or denied now come up to clear, and oftentimes, issues that were
thought to be healed long ago resurface - demonstrating that a
deeper level of healing is now required.
To ensure a safe
ride on the emotional roller coaster, keep hands and feet
inside the ride at all times, and if you can't control your
hands and feet, just hang on for dear life!
6.
Alienated Friends and Family
As you begin to raise your consciousness and awaken, you may
discover that you no longer have anything in common with your
friends and family, and due to your scrutiny and rejection of
previously shared beliefs, that old familiar connection could be
gone.
No doubt, if you're
alienated from the ones you love most, it's common to feel lost
and alone. Moreover, if your loved ones no longer understand
you, they might think you've gone bat-ass crazy.
So, be warned:
if you see two
big brawly men carrying a straitjacket to your front door,
don't hesitate to run out the backdoor - and whatever you
do, don't look back!
7.
Anti-Social Phenomena
During the process of awakening, small talk and socializing
often becomes quite unappealing and even downright unbearable at
times.
So, although you
might feel uneasy to
spend large amounts of time alone,
there's a good chance that, on most days, you'll choose it over
small talk and socializing.
8. End of
Toleration
By Stage 3 of Awakening above, it's very common to become
hyper-aware of unfulfilling relationships and/or careers that
have been quietly tolerated for years, and while this could
prompt a growing desire for change, it's often followed by a
debilitating fear of the unknown.
Nonetheless, it's
impossible to fully awaken while you continue to engage in
circumstances where you are unconscious and asleep.
Therefore, sooner or
later, it's time to acknowledge your personal truth
and make tangible changes accordingly.
While this often
means disentangling from unhealthy professional dynamics and/or
dysfunctional relationships, it could also mean setting and
enforcing boundaries that support a more conscious life.
9.
Unrecognizable to Yourself
As a result of questioning your own identity, at some point, you
might realize that you're no longer the person you once believed
yourself to be, and as you become unrecognizable to yourself,
you might experience big life changes in a relationship, career
or physical relocation.
Since the stranger in
the mirror is you, it's probably a good idea to
make friends with your new self. However, do your best
not to judge or abandon your old self who did all
the hard work to get you here!
10. Letting
Go
As the most pivotal factor, awakening requires a complete
letting go, such as letting go
of,
...and even who you
thought you once were.
Needless to say, this
often includes forgiveness of oneself and others...
While this is often
described as an "ego death," it's common to experience deep
feelings of emptiness.
In fact, a dear
friend once described this part of the journey as,
"sitting all
alone in an empty
Costco Warehouse."
11.
Embracing the Dark Side
As an often hidden aspect of awakening, you must eventually face
and embrace
your own dark-side.
Needless to say, if
you're attached to the identity of being a good person,
this can be a very difficult process.
While it's easier to
categorize people as good and bad and rationalize
that you fall into the former category, we all contain aspects
of light and dark, and therefore, we all have the
ability to demonstrate both the best and worst of human kind.
Since awakening
requires a return to wholeness, along with a high level of
unconditional self-love and acceptance, your whole being must be
integrated - even the parts you dislike or strive to change.
So, keep in mind that
as long as you don't hurt yourself or anyone else, it's
usually safe to befriend
your own inner "bad guy."
12.
Physical Symptoms
Let's not forget that during the process of awakening,
vibrational changes in the body and psyche can cause all types
of odd physical symptoms... many of which can make you feel like
you're possessed.
So, before you call
the exorcist or shroud yourself in garlic, remember that
a variety of awakening symptoms are perfectly normal, such as,
...and more.
(Of course, seek
professional medical care when appropriate.)
13.
Cyclic Ups and Downs
On this crazy and chaotic path of awakening, you'll likely have
days when you feel on top of the world and you'll think that you
finally "made it"… only to find yourself back in the pits of
confusion or despair the very next day.
Since this cycle is
quite normal, why not enjoy the good days while doing your best
to smooth out the bad.
Thankfully, over
time, the ups and downs will even out, and eventually,
you'll discover a beautiful space to call home.
14. What's
the Point?
For most, the process of awakening often reveals that life
has no real meaning or purpose, and this can result in
feelings of hopelessness and depression.
After all, if there's
no purpose to life, what's the point?
However, rather than
being the end of the story, the best part of life begins
after you move through the period of pointlessness. In
fact, this is when you will have the ability to consciously
write your own life story - the way you always wanted it to be!
15. Running
Out of Time?
If you're like many others on the path, you might experience
pangs of regret for not starting the journey earlier, and you
might even feel like you're running out of time.
But, rest assured;
thanks to a preset internal alarm clock, everyone begins
to wake-up at exactly the right time... specific to them.
In addition, even
before you officially began the journey, every life experience
has propelled you toward awakening, and this means that there
hasn't been a single wasted moment.
So, do yourself a
favor and double flush those pangs of regret down the
toilet...!
