On the surface, Aware is about teaching skills—how to move, how to eat, ways to think. But at its deepest level, it is about transforming perception, which is the key to raising human consciousness. Most people live reactively, operating on patterns ingrained by conditioning, environment, and unconscious behavior. The work of Aware is to bring people out of this unconscious state and into full awareness of their potential, choices, and control over their own evolution.
When individuals begin to live with awareness, their perception of reality shifts. They no longer feel like victims of genetics, habits, or external circumstances. They recognize their own power to shape their experience through conscious action. This shift is the foundation of a more elevated, conscious, and intentional life.
Raising human consciousness is not an abstract concept—it is the result of teaching people how to take control of their own thoughts, behaviors, and health. Through movement, they build presence. Through nutrition, they build clarity. Through psychology, they build self-mastery. And in doing so, they do not just change their own lives; they become more aware, more capable, and more connected to the world around them.
"Aware" is not just about health—it is about awakening.
The Expansion of Consciousness Through Self-Awareness
Consciousness is often understood as our ability to perceive, think, and engage with the world. It is the foundation of human experience, shaping our thoughts, actions, and understanding of reality. However, consciousness is not a static entity; rather, it exists on a spectrum of awareness, which can be expanded through intentional self-reflection. The more we become aware of our thoughts and actions, the more we refine our perception of the world, thus increasing our consciousness. This idea finds support in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience, suggesting that consciousness is fluid rather than fixed.
Awareness as the Foundation of Consciousness
To argue that consciousness can be expanded, it is first necessary to define it as awareness of oneself and one's environment. The degree to which we recognize and understand our internal processes directly influences how we perceive and interact with the external world. If an individual remains unaware of their cognitive biases, habits, and emotional responses, their perception of reality is filtered through unconscious mechanisms. However, when one becomes aware of these internal processes, they gain the ability to see reality with greater clarity.
Consider the example of cognitive biases. A person unaware of their confirmation bias may consistently reinforce their own beliefs without recognizing alternative perspectives. However, through self-awareness, they can begin to question their assumptions and engage more openly with differing viewpoints. This heightened intellectual flexibility allows for a broader, more nuanced understanding of reality, effectively expanding the scope of their consciousness. In this sense, consciousness is not merely a state of being but a dynamic process of deepening awareness.
Philosophical and Eastern Perspectives on Expanding Consciousness
This notion of consciousness as an expanding phenomenon is not new. In phenomenology, philosophers such as Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger argue that consciousness is shaped by how we attend to the world. Heidegger’s concept of “being-in-the-world” suggests that self-awareness is inseparable from world-awareness—the more we observe and reflect upon our internal experiences, the more we recognize the interconnectedness of all things. Similarly, Maurice Merleau-Ponty emphasized that perception is not passive but actively constructed by the individual.
Eastern philosophy also supports the idea that self-awareness leads to expanded consciousness. Buddhism, for example, teaches that mindfulness (sati) allows individuals to dissolve illusions of separateness between the self and the world. Vedantic traditions describe consciousness as a spectrum where the ultimate goal is to transcend the limitations of the ego and merge with a greater universal awareness (Brahman). Taoism similarly emphasizes that cultivating awareness of internal energy (Qi) and external forces leads to a more harmonious existence, which is itself an expansion of conscious experience.
In all these perspectives, consciousness is not a rigid, predetermined quality but a process of unfolding awareness. The more we become conscious of ourselves, the more we become conscious of the nature of existence itself.
Neuroscientific and Psychological Support
Beyond philosophy, modern neuroscience and psychology provide empirical support for the idea that consciousness can expand. The field of metacognition, which studies our ability to think about our own thinking, has shown that self-awareness increases cognitive flexibility and problem-solving ability. Research on mindfulness meditation has demonstrated that individuals who regularly practice self-observation develop a more refined sense of perception and emotional regulation. Studies using fMRI scans have shown that meditation increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for self-awareness, decision-making, and abstract thinking.
Additionally, the neuroscience of the default mode network (DMN) suggests that when we engage in introspection or mindfulness, we alter brain activity patterns. The DMN, which is active when the mind is wandering or engaged in self-referential thoughts, can sometimes reinforce habitual and unconscious thinking patterns. By actively practicing self-awareness, individuals can disrupt these automatic processes and increase conscious control over their perceptions and behaviors.
This ability to observe and regulate thought patterns is what allows for an expanded sense of consciousness. When people develop greater awareness of their mental and emotional states, they not only improve their understanding of themselves but also enhance their ability to perceive and engage with the external world in a more profound way.
Counterarguments and Responses
One potential counterargument is that awareness of one’s thoughts does not necessarily lead to greater world awareness. It is possible for someone to be highly introspective yet remain disconnected from external realities. For example, a philosopher may spend years contemplating the nature of existence without developing practical awareness of their surroundings or social structures. In this case, their increased self-awareness does not necessarily translate into an expanded consciousness of the world.
However, the flaw in this argument is that it assumes self-awareness is purely an intellectual exercise rather than an experiential one. True awareness is not just thinking about thoughts but observing and experiencing the nature of perception itself. Meditation practitioners, for instance, report that increased internal awareness leads to a heightened sensitivity to external details—such as noticing small nuances in nature, human interactions, or even subtle shifts in emotional states. Therefore, true expansion of consciousness requires both self-reflection and active engagement with the world.
Another objection is that consciousness is a fixed property, meaning more awareness does not "increase" it but simply shifts focus. Some materialists argue that the brain's neural complexity is already set, and any sense of expanding consciousness is merely a subjective experience rather than an actual increase in awareness.
While it is true that consciousness does not grow in a quantifiable way like an organ or a muscle, it can still expand functionally in the way that intelligence, perception, and cognitive depth can expand. Just as we can improve our capacity for critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and creativity, we can also train our consciousness to perceive reality more holistically. The fact that practices like mindfulness and metacognition physically alter neural structures suggests that consciousness is not entirely fixed—it is shaped and refined by experience.
The Expanding Lens of Consciousness
A useful analogy for understanding the expansion of consciousness is to think of a lens focusing on reality. If consciousness is like a small, foggy lens, it can only perceive reality in a narrow, distorted way. However, as awareness grows, the lens widens and becomes clearer, allowing for greater depth, detail, and complexity in perception.
This explains why individuals who cultivate high levels of self-awareness often report heightened clarity, intuition, and sensitivity to their surroundings.
The Societal Impact of Raising Human Consciousness
If humanity were to collectively raise its level of consciousness, the implications for society would be profound. A heightened state of awareness—both of the self and the world—could lead to more ethical decision-making, a greater sense of unity, enhanced problem-solving, and a shift in cultural and economic priorities. Throughout history, periods of intellectual, spiritual, and scientific advancement have often correlated with an expansion in human consciousness. If this growth were to occur on a mass scale, society could undergo transformative change in nearly every domain, from politics and economics to education, technology, and interpersonal relationships.
Ethical and Moral Evolution
One of the most significant impacts of increased consciousness would be a shift in morality and ethics. As awareness grows, people become more mindful of their actions, intentions, and their effects on others. This could lead to:
Greater empathy and compassion: A heightened consciousness fosters an ability to see beyond personal biases and recognize the inherent value in all individuals. This could reduce discrimination, violence, and exploitation, as people begin to view others through a lens of shared humanity rather than division.
A shift away from ego-driven behavior: Many societal issues stem from ego-centered thinking—greed, status-seeking, and power struggles. Increased self-awareness would encourage individuals to move beyond self-serving interests toward collaborative and ethical decision-making.
Redefining justice and accountability: Criminal justice systems could shift from punishment-based models to rehabilitation and transformation, recognizing that destructive behaviors often stem from low levels of self-awareness, trauma, or conditioned behavior.
If consciousness were raised on a broad scale, societies might begin to replace rigid legalistic systems with more holistic, restorative justice approaches that aim to heal rather than simply punish.
Political and Economic Transformation
Our current political and economic systems often reflect competition, scarcity, and self-interest, all of which are rooted in lower levels of consciousness. Raising human consciousness could lead to fundamental changes, including:
More cooperative and transparent governance: Instead of politics being driven by partisanship and division, leadership could become more inclusive, rational, and solutions-oriented. Political decisions might prioritize long-term well-being over short-term power struggles.
Economic systems based on sustainability rather than exploitation: Many modern economies are built on consumerism, profit maximization, and resource depletion. A more conscious society would prioritize sustainability, ethical labor practices, and regenerative economic models that support the well-being of both people and the planet.
Decentralization of power: As individuals become more aware, they may demand greater autonomy and participation in governance, leading to shifts toward grassroots, community-driven decision-making rather than hierarchical, top-down control.
Universal access to basic needs: Increased consciousness would likely lead to a global commitment to eradicating poverty, hunger, and preventable disease, as people recognize the moral and practical imperative of ensuring all humans have access to basic needs.
Rather than being seen as acts of charity, such changes would be viewed as necessary for the collective evolution of humanity.
Education and Knowledge Expansion
A society with heightened consciousness would revolutionize education and knowledge dissemination. Traditional education models focus largely on memorization and standardized testing, often neglecting critical thinking, creativity, and self-awareness. Raising consciousness would shift this paradigm to include:
Holistic education: Schools would emphasize emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, and self-inquiry, ensuring that individuals develop not just intellect but wisdom and self-awareness.
Interdisciplinary learning: Knowledge would no longer be confined to rigid academic silos. Instead, students would be encouraged to explore interconnected subjects, recognizing how science, philosophy, art, and ethics are deeply interwoven.
Expansion of consciousness studies: Fields like neuroscience, meditation research, philosophy of mind, and quantum consciousness would be integrated into mainstream education, helping individuals understand the nature of their own awareness and cognitive processes.
With greater consciousness, learning would shift from a mechanical process of knowledge acquisition to an expansive journey of self-discovery and intellectual curiosity.
Social and Cultural Shifts
Cultural norms and societal values would undergo significant changes in response to a collective rise in consciousness. Some key transformations could include:
Redefining success and fulfillment: A society that values self-awareness and wisdom over material wealth would see a shift in career aspirations, consumer behavior, and lifestyle choices. Rather than prioritizing status and accumulation, people might pursue purpose, creativity, and service to others.
A shift in media and entertainment: Much of today’s media focuses on sensationalism, fear, and escapism. A more conscious society would demand media that educates, inspires, and fosters deep engagement with meaningful ideas rather than reinforcing superficial distractions.
The rise of mindfulness and introspection: Practices like meditation, breathwork, and holistic well-being would become more widespread, leading to a cultural norm where inner development is just as important as external achievement.
Health and wellness revolutions: The mind-body connection would be better understood, leading to shifts in healthcare from symptom management to preventative and holistic healing. Rather than being overly reliant on pharmaceuticals, societies would embrace lifestyle-based medicine, nutrition, movement, and mental wellness as the foundation of health.
Greater appreciation for nature and interconnectedness: A heightened awareness of humanity’s relationship with the Earth could lead to a profound cultural shift toward environmental stewardship, ensuring that progress aligns with sustainability and ecological balance.
In essence, as human consciousness expands, societal values would shift from competition to collaboration, from division to unity, and from materialism to meaning.
Scientific and Technological Advancements
Science and technology would not be left behind in a conscious society—rather, they would evolve in more ethically responsible ways.
Technology guided by wisdom: Instead of tech companies optimizing for profit and addiction (as seen in social media algorithms), technological advancements would be guided by human flourishing and well-being. AI, biotechnology, and neuroscience would be developed ethically and transparently.
Exploration of consciousness itself: If human awareness is truly expanding, new areas of research into the nature of consciousness, quantum mechanics, and reality itself would emerge. Humanity might reach new insights into the fundamental structure of existence.
Alternative energy and sustainability breakthroughs: With increased collective awareness, innovation would focus on solving existential threats such as climate change, resource scarcity, and pollution.
Raising consciousness would not reject technology but integrate it with human wisdom, ensuring that progress is aligned with ethical principles.remove mental noise, unconscious biases, and habitual thought loops, the more open we become to the richness of existence.
Conclusion
Consciousness is not a fixed state but a fluid and evolving process. The more aware we become of our thoughts, emotions, and actions, the more we refine our perception of reality, allowing for an expansion of consciousness. This idea is supported by philosophical traditions, cognitive science, and neuroscience, all of which suggest that deeper self-awareness leads to a broader, more profound understanding of the world.
If consciousness is ultimately the lens through which we experience reality, then the clearer and more expansive that lens becomes, the more deeply we can engage with existence itself. The pursuit of greater self-awareness is not merely an exercise in introspection; it is a path toward a richer, fuller, and more conscious life.