Aging is a miraculous process (if we’re lucky and let aging have her way with us) by which we mature into realizing that we are not the center of the universe. Some of you may have seen this diagram below, which includes the four quadrants of consciousness that we hopefully pass through as we mature.

TO ME (victim consciousness)
BY ME (responsibility consciousness)
THROUGH ME (surrender consciousness)
AS ME (oneness consciousness).

The “to me” and “by me” consciousnesses are likely familiar, so let me unpack the last two. When we have a “through me” consciousness, we become a channel that facilitates flow. For many of us, this is the ultimate state. But, “as me” offers a blurring of the personal self as a vessel with a connection to something much bigger—an experience of oneness.

Whereas the “through me” state may still have some egoic intent, in the “as me” state, we feel a boundless state of being with no intent at all.

In our daily lives, we do a little hopscotch amongst these states, but as we age and transition from the attain to the attune state, we are at one with everything, which is its own form of enlightenment.

P.S. What are you doing for 4th of July week? We’re offering a week-long Sabbatical Sessions wellness vacation July 2-9 at our Baja campus. Ask anyone who has experienced SabSesh and they’ll tell you it’s a lovely way to refresh your body, mind, and soul as we offer some of our MEA mindfulness and education sessions, but you’re not obligated to do anything other than enjoy our three healthy, delicious meals daily overlooking the ocean. It’s also a great opportunity to connect more deeply with your spouse, a family member or friend.