“Happiness is the state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values.” — Ayn Rand
To align basically means to produce a proper relationship or orientation. Taking this further, it also means to adhere to a prescribed course of action. Coupling this with consciousness which is the awareness of one’s existence, sensations, thoughts and surroundings brings another focus to who we are and recognizing the obvious differences of what we are not. No, this is not a trick implication . . . quite the contrary. As the quote above by Ayn Rand suggests, no one else is responsible for our happiness or consciousness but ourselves . . . that’s right . . . you alone are responsibly accountable for your conscious awareness, presence of mind, values and happiness.
Unfortunately, one’s values can become blurred, substituted, clouded and abandoned for a myriad of reasons or circumstances. Fundamentally, we are products of our orientation and environment. Often we excuse ourselves from certain modes of conduct/behavior due to an unwillingness to take personal responsibility for mistakes, errors, bad judgement, poor choices, misplaced anger, clouded motivation/intention or irrational thinking. Of course, one could look at this in another way using a quote by Pir Vileyat Khan, “In dream consciousness … we make things happen by wishing them, because we are not only the observer of what we experience but also the creator.”
At this point, what have you created in your life that has produced a proper relationship or orientation . . . leading to a prescribed course of action? What have you aligned yourself with pertaining to consciousness? More importantly, do you know or even care? Kidding yourself on various levels in this life’s journey only lasts so long, sooner or later reality is the grand equalizer and the words of Edmund Burke become clarifying, “Falsehood is a personal Spring. Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.”
Becoming comfortable with extreme discomfort at any given time in life is daunting, not impossible. When given no choice due to unforeseen life changes/circumstances, one’s orientation and environmental background kicks in without revocation. That’s right . . . when you least expect, want or anticipate it, you are drop-kicked into becoming aware of your consciousness . . . like it or not. What a shocking revelation! However, when clarity becomes the norm and not the exception these words by Edmund Burke may illuminate your circumstances, “He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.” Who or what is your antagonist in the present moment, and precipitating a new skill set that you can add to your arsenal of aligning consciousness? JLR