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From Victim To Victor To Vessel Consciousness.
Given psychology and/or emotional intelligence is probably the most important aspect of any healing journey or health transformation, I loved this talk by Dr Mark Atkinson at The Health Optimisation Summit. It is an area that fascinates me. He talked about three levels of consciousness that we all go through in our lives. I’ve immersed myself in the field of personal growth since 2010, and I’ve spent thousands on psychology training. What Mark Atkinson did here was beautifully summarise all I’ve learned! Whilst I’m familiar with these three levels of consciousness, his way of explaining them had me completely gripped and taking notes throughout.
Mark talked about Victim, Victor, and Vessel consciousness. I believe in different areas of our lives, we are always moving between these 3 levels of consciousness. We might have our health optimised but be challenged with relationships. Our finances might be amazing, but personal relationships require attention. Our career might be wonderful, yet our health is down the toilet. Ultimately, Vessel is the highest level of consciousness. Personally, I feel it’s pretty much impossible in the Western World to be at this level constantly. Yet we do all experience it. For my own health and healing journey, I went from victim to victor. I used to think my 30 years of eczema was ‘my curse’ – as if I’d been dealt bad cards. In fact, I’d argue that I almost formed an identity with it; ‘Poor me, look at me, look at what’s happened to me, give me sympathy.’
That was until I realised it has a root cause, for which I was in full control of addressing. I was able to get rid of eczema symptoms, by addressing what I’d later refer to as the Physical, Mental and Emotional pillars of Vitality. However, in another area of my life I’d say I stuck in victim mode for longer. Even now I find myself there sometimes – yet I’m much more aware of it. I catch myself. When it comes to my work, and speaking truth, I feel I’m at vessel consciousness. When I write, or film live videos, or coach people, or talk from a stage, I often feel as if, once I’m in ‘the zone,’ that the information is not coming from my head brain, it’s coming from elsewhere. Those who can relate to ‘vessel consciousness’ which you might refer to as ‘flow,’ are actors, musicians and artists. From a ‘spiritual’ perspective, this is ultimately when we become a channel for Source energy to flow through us. We can all establish this. We can all relate to this – and it only happens when we focus. Multitasking is the death of flow – unless multitasking is required for a goal you’re attaining. E.g. event organisers. Otherwise, when multitasking, it’s near on impossible to establish this beautiful state. The brain is not an octopus.
The challenge for me, is that my ego mind (victim mentality) often stops me from truly stepping into vessel consciousness – ultimate power. How so? Because the ego mind is trying to protecting me from the unknown. ‘What if someone says_____? What if no one reacts? What if my friends don’t like this? What if I upset someone?’ The ego mind is designed to keep us safe, and is very useful for that, yet it can really stand in the way of us stepping into the true essence of who we are.
Are you intrigued?
Enter Dr Mark Atkinson. These are notes from his talk, and text in brackets are my personal reflections.
- The ego has been created as a result of conditioning and childhood memories.
- When you show up from victim / ego – this is not you. This is ‘Stage 1’ Consciousness.
- When you live in your head, in “reality” you end up approaching life with a paper bag on your head, disconnected. You’re listening to “radio me.”
- Sense of lack “I’m not good enough” – this is living on the island of victim consciousness…unnecessary suffering – and you cause and evoke suffering on others
- From island one – you inflict others with that level consciousness. [In other words, it’s responding to life as if stuff happens tous, not for It’s depending on others for making us feel happy, when in fact, our happiness is really our choice. We’re in charge of our emotions and how we respond to external events and circumstances. If we say things like “that person over there made me feel X” – that’s victim consciousness. It’s as if we’re saying “It’s that person’s job to make me happy. I’m not responsible for my own emotions. Why aren’t people lining up to make me happy?” And of course, the same goes for our health – and sadly, this is how our society / culture has conditioned us. We’ve been conditioned to be victims – victim to our ‘illness’ (symptom), victim to our genes, and last but not least – victim to a disease and symptoms maintenance business model – aka Modern Medicine. Sound familiar? “Got an illness? Take this medication. Mask your symptom. Allow the root cause to worsen unnoticed. Take more medications because you now have side effects from that one, which means you’re getting sicker. Enjoy the pill for a pill society. Enjoy your dis-ease. Enjoy your deterioration.”This is ‘Western Medication.’ It’s not exactly an empowering model is it? We’re conditioned to be victims in other areas too. Last week I had a call from a law firm; “Our records show you were involved in a car accident 10 years ago that wasn’t your fault.” Please go away, do something worthwhile, and keep your victim consciousness away from me…How judgemental of me! That’s the ego mind right there…]
Victor consciousness
- This is when you take responsibility
- The 12-step AA process is a ‘refugee camp.’ It’s assigning a label and commitment to it for life. [Side note: I do know friends for whom this has been greatly beneficial, and empowering, my personal concern is the label that is associated with it; “I’m an alcoholic.”I don’t believe that for a second. There is deep-rooted reason / a trapped emotion (or several) or a trauma (small or large) that has created the addiction. The addiction is merely a symptom – in my view.]
- Island 2 is about taking charge, responsibility, and making it happen. You want to improve yourself, and you realise it’s not quite enough. You realise you’re called into depth. And that is the spiritual journey. [I can relate to this so much. Once I started the personal growth journey, I went deep into this – and have completely, and unexpectedly found myself on the most incredible spiritual journey – and I’m not talking about any kind of religious denomination. I’m talking about ‘getting connected’ to an intelligence way greater than me.]
- Then comes mediation…does it work?
ISLAND 3: VESSEL CONSCIOUSNESS
- Island 3: “It’s not my life. I am life. I’m an aspect of life. I’m in a body. It’s a gift. I co-create as life. I get out of the way. Incredible things unfold. Transition from victor – vessel is an act of surrender. [Have you read The Surrender Experiment? It’s amazing.]
- There is nothing I won’t respond to
- The genesis of psychological fitness is about getting from island 1 & 2 to Vessel Consciousness.
- You live from your body / belly / heart, NOT from your head. [I LOVE this – we’re programmed in modern society to act from our intellect. This is our head brain. We have innate intelligence in our hearts and body and gut that is infinitely more powerful and brilliant.]
- Most people live from their head. How do we not do this? Soften the eyes, breathe, sink to lower belly. Back into awareness. When attention is in power belly there is no drama. Life is life. [We did a quick exercise in which we did this – very powerful.]
- As you go about your life pay attention to spaciousness around you as much as you do the content of what is around you. [It helps to have phone in airplane mode unless we’re actively engaged in a task that requires it – otherwise we’re ‘heads down’ and disconnected from life.]
- Please don’t use head tool. It creates division. Disconnectedness and judgemental. Drop into your heart. You will feel connection, depth, and love.
- Please don’t try to live from a place of compassion – that’s the ego construct. Just be no one. Be in your heart. See what happens with people you want to connect like this – from you heart. With presence.)
- The moment you see chaos, smile and soften into your heart.
- Ask yourself “Am I trying to make something happen?”
- High performance self is revealed when you drop below egoistic mind and into awareness. This is ultimate effectiveness and clarity of thought and direction.
- If you want to be in the ocean of life, there is no need to stay on the beach. Get into the ocean, put on the scuba gear – see the joy, the mass wellbeing, the love[You might want to turn off the news for a while – forever – I did this 7 years ago and I discovered some many truths – empowering ones. Such as: the human body will heal anything.]
- Get to a place where there is unconditional acceptance and reflection
- Imagine opening the door to 10 children? Each one is a different emotion – love / sadness / joy etc – which one do I let in? We get to experience all emotions.
- Live from your lower belly. Attune to your heart.
- Use soft eyes. Welcome to whatever is arising. My direct experience wants to flow. Don’t say no to emotions – don’t push down that which seeks to float.Beach ball analogy. This is transition into consciousness.
- Be present, open and aware. Reality is what is.
- If it includes vulnerability and joy, that is ‘what is’
- Compulsive thinking dissolves away – decisions from the ego mind become few and far between.
- If you recycle a story for more than a minute – you’re stuck. You’re not allowing it to flow and pass. [I LOVE this – I did this for decades!!]
- Be here present, open and aware.
- We spend a lot of time doing things that don’t matter [this is also referred to as ‘majoring in minor things’ – things that just don’t matter]
- Please don’t go to head to figure out what matters most
- If you really want to know – go into your heart, receive the answer.
- Most people will die with a paper bag on their heads listening to radio me.
- Psychological Fitness Specialist – new programme with Dave Asprey. He then talked about 8 weeks of practices and tools – and helping others to do the same.
What are your thoughts? Are you able to relate to this presentation of three levels of consciousness? When it comes to health, everyone I’ve worked with, or have interviewed, has stepped into their true power – their power to heal themselves. It’s required turning their backs on mainstream advice and the Western Medications system – whilst being grateful for it, for how it has served us. This is ultimate power, and it can happen faster than we’d ever imagine possible.
If you’d like heal yourself and free yourself from illness, pain and medication, it is well within your grasp. I work with people who are at victor consciousness (or at least stepping into), and above. If this is you, I can inspire you to step into your power and heal your own body. I commit to you as your ‘partner in health’ and your own personal vitality consultant. I know that the body will heal anything, and if this is within your knowing, too, then I’d love to work with you. Please fill out this quick questionnaire to answer a few questions. Please do this only if you’re happy and willing to invest in your health. I’m not free – yet I do support 100% of my private clients to get superb results and a true health transformation. 🙂 BOOK STRATEGY CALL HERE
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