Quantum Leap In Consciousness

written by: Kosjenka Muk

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A quote attributed to Einstein says that we cannot resolve a problem at the same level of thinking we used when creating it. This is especially true regarding emotional problems and the life situations which we create.

Often we are caught within a disappointing circle of emotions and thoughts focused on trying to change external situations or other people around us. We make rational choices, which we subsequently either delay or suffer conflicting emotions within us. Such internal conflict can make it impossible to even make a decision.

Each of these urges, emotions and thoughts contain a bit of truth and a bit of healthy and justifiable desires, but not one of them perceives the bigger picture. Before we finally deal with the beliefs and emotions that limit us, each of them will alternately appear accurate and realistic. After we heal our limitations and, which is particularly important, integrate our lost and forgotten qualities and parts of out true being, we can comprehend the saying of a Zen Master: the opposite to truth is also truth. We can look at the situation with a deeper understanding and insight, and what is more important, without limitations that hinder us. At that moment the answer is obvious, similarly as when we observe other people who wrestle with their own problems.

For example, perhaps you are unsatisfied with the quality of your intimate relationship. Maybe there is a battle inside you between anger, love, defiance, fear, thoughts like: 'he is better than many others.... better to be with her than alone... but he/she does not value or recognize me as much as I desire... but in some situations he is very caring... what if I wouldn't be able to find what I desire if ended this relationship... but I still desire much more than this relationship can give me...'

Trying to change the other person or external environment, or making a rational decision, won't be successful in such a situation. Even if it is successful (which is usually only temporarily), the root of the problem remains unresolved, emotions unhealed, lost parts of us remain unintegrated, and we will quite quickly create, or will be attracted to a similar situation or similar feelings, until we finally look within us and start working on resolving the cause of the problem.

Traumatic experiences and toxic relationships cause fissures in the personality: some parts of our identity are thrown away to be replaced by limiting beliefs (often what is thrown away are positive qualities amongst which in first place is self-esteem), others are suppressed and remain on a childish level (uncomfortable feelings), whilst others develop to create a mask of a compensatory nature (e.g. aggressiveness, playing victim, and sometimes even positive qualities may be used in this way, such as an overt intellectualism, sexuality or humour).

After we resolve our limited beliefs, we can then integrate, for example, lost self-esteem, optimism or the inner feeling of happiness. Only then it may become obvious to us, depending upon the situation we find ourselves in, that we were, for example, reacting strongly to little matters which we could resolve through honesty and calm conversation; or perhaps that we truly neglected ourselves out of fear that we don't deserve what we really want, or that we can't find anything better. Maybe we have understood it rationally a while ago, but similarly - as when one tries to guide a friend towards a rational and positive resolution to her problem - the same emotions and fears would reemerge that kept us back. Attempting to choose between the rational and emotional, between one emotion and another, is a maddening job. The conflict continues until we reach a degree of integration from which we can feel and act as a whole at a new level of maturity and health. That is truly a quantum leap in consciousness.

A common problem is that it's very easy to neglect our own contribution to the problem, to follow immature emotions which in such moments seem very realistic, and put off their resolution “for later”. Procrastinating like that, we can spend years and even decades in unnecessary frustrations, instead of utilising that time for improving ourselves and creating a happy and healthy life.

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© Kosjenka Muk, 2005