According to the late Dr. David R. Hawkins, who used kinesiology to calibrate human emotional states, FEAR registers on his 0-1000 scale, at a level of 100-150.
At the time of his writing the book Power vs. Force (1995), he suggested that 87% of all humanity calibrates below the consciousness level of 200, with 49% of that total representing the U.S.
I wonder what that percentage would be today.
To provide some context; Love registers at 500, Peace at 600, and Enlightenment enters in from 700-1000.
I begin this post with lots of figures, assuming I can catch you while your brain is still fresh.
Here’s the premise.
The consciousness level you predominately employ, has everything to do with your life experience, i.e. how you see the world. And the stress and confusion of the world, contributes to your lower states of consciousness.
A viscous cycle, indeed.
Whether it’s the skewed state of our politics, human inequality, the future health of Mother Earth, or another one of the pressing issues of our time, we can easily lose touch of hope, and give way to fear.
Not to mention, but I will here, the state of your personal relationships, finances, health and work - what one of my friends refers to as your ‘major areas’.
In earlier posts on this topic, we explored the idea that fear, from its many sources, activates the fight/flight response, and makes us feel unsafe.
Mindfulness, which is simply the art of heightened attention, provides a roadmap for us to navigate life’s precarious twists and turns, and cultivate safety and security along the way.
To begin, we simply open our eyes and hearts to new ways of living and being, freer from that dreaded fear, while forging a connection with hope.
Hope is the turning point between despair and action.
Hope is akin to Beginner’s Mind — seeing things as if for the first time, laced with potential and possibility.
Action:
As you step back and observe your life, you might ask:
What’s working? What’s not?
When do you feel strong and vital? What’s causing you pain, suffering, frustration and the welling up of fear?
You can raise your individual vibration to improve current circumstances and future possibilities.
You can move yourself UP the rungs of emotional consciousness, to achieve more consistent states of happiness, love and peace.
And it’s easier than you may assume, because these states that you seek, are already a part of you. They’re a part of all of us. We simply need to tune in, and tap in, to those streams that we want to flow within.
Change your technique, not your aspiration. The state does not have to be sought, as it is always within us.— from Power vs. Force
In this final episode of Safe and Sound, I’m inviting you to connect with HOPE, by once again, repeating a phrase (silently or aloud) that begins to weave the energy of hope into your precious life moments.
Practice:
I am connecting hope with my state of health.
I am connecting hope with the state of my finances.
I am connecting hope with the state of the world.
You can modify these statements by filling in the final word — the one that fits best with your intentions.
If you think this sounds too simple, please know that your words, thoughts and intentions are far more powerful than you may imagine.
In closing, a final excerpt from Power vs. Force, which gives me hope that my thoughts, my actions and my choices truly make a difference!
The universe holds its breath as we choose, instant by instant, which pathway to follow; for the universe, the very essence of life itself, is highly conscious. Every act, thought, and choice adds to a permanent mosaic; our decisions ripple through the universe of consciousness to affect the lives of all.— from Power vs. Force
Your comments are welcome!
This three part journey was so valuable to me. It is in the simplest and most basic of things that hope dwells, and flies when we allow it. As Emily Dickinson said so well - “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes without the words – and never stops at all.”
The practice of connecting hope with various aspects of our lives is a simple yet effective way to tune into the streams of happiness, love, and peace that already exist within us. I often contemplate hope vs faith. While hope and faith are related, they can be different in terms of their focus and intensity. Hope can be more focused on a specific outcome or goal, while faith may involve a broader sense of trust or belief in the universe, a higher power, or oneself. I think both are helpful on this path and most importantly, as you point out, it takes practice! The final quote from Power vs. Force reminds me of the Buddha's teaching that our thoughts shape our reality. Thank you for sharing this uplifting and insightful essay that encourages mindfulness and inspires hope.