How to increase consciousness
“The more you care about others, the more alive you’re going to feel.” – Tony Robbins
We’ve all been given a gift called consciousness – and it’s our sacred human job to not only expand our own consciousness, but to learn how to be conscious of others. We expand our consciousness by how we live – we expand that consciousness when we care about people that can’t hurt us or help us. We expand our consciousness with the awareness that life is truly happening for us, in us, through us and around us – with the awareness that we are life.
The only thing that stands in your way is fear. Where focus goes, energy flows, and you can choose what you focus on when fear arises. When we lean into our consciousness – when we are conscious of others’ feelings and focus on connection and caring – fear disappears because life becomes about more than ourselves. Awareness pulls us out of our churning, fearful mind and centers us in our true nature, experiencing life exactly as it is in this moment.
This is when you step up to the full potential of your humanity. When you’re conscious of others, you can be with your family, loved ones and yourself in a more meaningful way – with more awareness, compassion and connection to our true nature. That is when the magic happens.
What is consciousness?
What consciousness really means is to care. Consciousness is something that comes from the inside, not outside. It’s not a measurement for anybody else, and is only a measurement for ourselves.
Consciousness is different from our mind. Our mind is what we’ve learned, what we’ve cultivated, what’s been conditioned in us. Consciousness is what we really are. When we care at the deepest level of consciousness, we channel the best part of our soul and our spirit.
There are four levels of consciousness:
Ego-centric
You care only about yourself. This creates loneliness and isolation.
Ethno-centric
You are conscious of others’ feelings, but only because of what they can give you. This creates conflict and pain.
World-centric
You are conscious of others because they are part of humanity.
Spirit-centric
You care about everything – animals, things, plants. You are open to emotion and feel it all.
How to be conscious of others
As humans we’re all going to experience pain. But pain is a catalyst for us to evolve. Part of that evolution is to unlock how to be conscious of others in order to become more of our true nature. We must connect to our higher selves and cultivate awareness of others through our actions in daily life.
1. Practice gratitude
Tony says, “Trade your expectation for appreciation and the world changes instantly.” The fastest way to expand your consciousness is to adopt an abundance mindset. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on all the gifts life has given you. Go for a walk and appreciate the fresh air in your lungs. Take a minute to be thankful for food in your refrigerator and gas in your car. When you experience life from a place of appreciation, you become more conscious of others’ feelings as well.
2. Give back
Tony Robbins has dedicated his life to giving back and serving more. One of the ways he’s serving both people and the planet is through his commitment to environmental consciousness by planting 100 million trees through Trees for the Future. This organization provides training and mentoring to impoverished farmers in developing countries, guiding them through the process of using trees to protect, diversify and optimize their crop land. Get started by donating a tree, then think about all the other ways you can begin giving back and improving your ability to be conscious of others.
3. Meditate
To be conscious of others’ feelings, you must master your own emotions. Tony and Sage work with Master Co, a Pranic healer, teacher and author. He says, “Spirituality is like breathing. Through meditation and prayer, your Soul is inhaling spiritual light. As you are of service to others, your Soul exhales or shares these divine blessings. Just like with your physical breath, you can’t choose to only inhale or only exhale. This balanced rhythm of receiving blessings and sharing them is the secret to a life of Sustained Spiritual Fulfillment!”
Master Co teaches a Directed Mind and Heart session on Day 4 of Tony Robbins’ Unleash the Power Within event. Can’t make it? Meditate with Master Co in the mindfulness meditation.
Inspiration for being conscious of others’ feelings
Tony firmly believes that if we were all more conscious of others’ feelings, the world would be a better place. Gain inspiration for your journey toward expanding your consciousness.
Nicolette Richer and Andy Ruben
Nicolette Richer was inspired to be conscious of others by her grandmother and the first nations in her Canadian province of British Columbia. She owns a nutritional coaching business and a chain of organic cafés, running each business according to conscious principles. She says, “We need to live connected to the greater consciousness that unites us all.”
Andy Ruben used to run global strategy at Walmart, but when he got the opportunity to start a sustainability program, his whole life changed. “I really came to appreciate how much work there is to be done,” he says. He realized that learning how to be conscious of others and of the environment isn’t just good for the world, it’s good for business.
Hear Nicolette and Andy’s stories on the Tony Robbins Podcast episode “How to Cultivate Awareness and Caring.”
Michael Singer
In the podcast, “Do You Want to Be Happy?,” Tony, Sage and Michael Singer discuss how to live from a place of surrender, in order to bring true happiness and truly discover how to be conscious of others. Bestselling author Singer shared with Tony one of his most valued insights. Tony learned that humans’ natural reaction when we feel emotions that disturb us is to change the outside world so that we can feel good on the inside – when really we need to start with the inside.
What about you? How will you be more conscious of others and of yourself?
What’s your top need that drives your life?
In order to fully use and share our gifts, we must understand how our human needs shape our thoughts, behaviors and actions. Take this free quiz to discover your top human need and how it shapes you.