Having just finished David Hawkins Power vs. Force, I share with you my top 5 takeaways.
One of the greatest and highly memorable gifts Power vs Force is offering us readers is the detailed map of consciousness Hawkins and his team derived from intensive research using kinesiology methods of astounding reliability. This map represents a structured hierarchy of consciousness levels with their correspondent emotions and calibrated energy (field) levels from 20 at the bottom of the map up to 1000 at the top. The higher the consciousness level of the individual and humanity as a whole, the more beneficial and healing the effect on the world (preface).
That it is possible to map consciousness levels to guide humanity in their endeavour to develop and grow seems nothing short of marvellous to me as it provides a kind of handrail for personal development. In our TCCHE book group discussion it was easy for participants to find the level they think they operate from most of the time, knowing exactly the next level they are aspiring to and working towards. Hawking’s map thus holds an inherent invitation if not call to identify the level we spend the most time on and endeavour to find a way to move upwards on this hierarchy for our own benefit as well as others. It’s his expressed desire to assist the evolution of human consciousness in each of us to rise to the level of joy that should be the essence of man’s experience. In fact, this represents the first major take away for me:
1. We must aim to focus our life energy on personal growth and develop our consciousness.
As a Personal Leadership Coach, this first take away resonates deeply with me and reminds me of a similar take away from one of the first books that influenced me in my teenage years: the ‘The Road Less Travelled’ by Scott Peck. I remember agreeing with the author that there surely can’t be anything more important in life than working on one’s personal growth, not knowing much back then on how to go about doing so.
Hawkins stresses that this focus on personal growth is more important than on striving to change the outer world. In the preface to the book he claims that we change the world not by what we say or do but as a consequence of what we have become. I could not agree more and therefore frequently share a similar message with my friends and clients summarised in this favourite quote of mine:
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. – Howard Thurman
While Thurman uses the word aliveness, Hawkins speaks of the level of joy as the essence of human experience we all deserve. What stands out to me is that the way he proposes we achieve this is by focusing on our own development rather than trying to change others or the world around us. Hence my second take away:
2. Focus on yourself. Don’t try to change the world or others. Work on your own self awareness and raise your level of consciousness and the world changes for the better effortlessly in response.
According to Hawkins even small increases in consciousness represent major advances in genuine positive power and the ‘greatest gift anyone can give to the world’ (p.307). Hence all efforts on this inner work are highly worth it and will positively impact the outer world responding like a mirror to our inner progress.
I absolutely love this focus on the inner over the outer and it’s another key take away for me.
3. True success orginates from within (p.227)
Towards the end of the book I am delighted to find Hawkins talk about our ‘inborn compass’ and how growing and raising our consciousness help us in discovering it. This is exactly what I have found over two decades of empowerment coaching and what has helped me find my feet and path after my cancer diagnosis when my daughter was only 18 months old. How to find and learn to use your inner compass is in fact the central theme in my own latest book ‘The SilkeyWay Method to a Meaningful Life full of Joy’. Living with and from your inner value compass is life changing and I consider it the foundation for a fulfilling life and for becoming a Personal Leader of one’s own most exciting life adventures. Hawkins equally speaks of the experience of ‘ultimate adventure’ when working on creating the conditions for moving up the levels of consciousness. In my book I call this way of life living on your SilkeyWay.
Now the difficulty starts when we wonder HOW we raise consciousness. Without an active and conscious effort we can’t expect to grow more than 5 points over a life time, disappointingly not even enough for reaching the next level! This is due to considerable resistance to change within all of us and a genuine ‘lack of knowledge about the nature of consciousness itself’ (introduction). Hawkins gives us some clues, however, as to what it takes to go beyond. A genuine ‘willingness’ (p257) and an open mind seem to be the starting attitudes required. A surrender to the illusion ‘I know’ is the second step. As I can testify from my own low moments in life, whether cancer, accidents or perceived painful ‘failures’, Hawkins sees great leaps in levels of consciousness often preceded by hitting ‘rock bottom’ (p.265), when we can no longer hold onto the illusion of having it all sussed out and realise that a new perspective or paradigm needs to replace our old model of thinking and perceiving. Of course seeing these low moments as opportunity of growth is exactly what can catapult us upwards on his map of consciousness. Thus my fourth key take away:
4. Be willing, open minded and use struggles and difficulties as opportunities to grow.
Hawkins stresses two critical levels in his map of consciousness. Reaching the level 200 of courage as the initial level of empowerment is the key step to turning our lives around while positively impacting others. Operating on the levels below is not just less comfortable and less joyful. He even calls the lower levels ‘destructive of life in both the individual and society at large’ (p.97) while all levels above are constructive levels of power that arises from the meaning generated. Level 500 of love represents the next major turning point in personal fulfilling growth.
To move out of the negative emotions of shame, guilt, fear, anger and reach the level the critical first positive level of courage, empowerment is the key process. But how do we empower ourselves? As an experienced Personal Leadership coach my answer is by working on increasing our self awareness, clarifying who we truly are, what we truly value and what has meaning for us. It’s about taking full courageous responsibility for one’s choices and thus becoming an authentic Personal Leader. With deep self awareness, we can make confident empowered choices. I am grateful to be trained how to bring this about for my coaching clients (and myself) able to serve them as best as I can by finding their reliable Personal Value Compass to guide them day after day to meaning and a life full of joy. Once empowered and equipped with one’s inner compass, it’s no longer difficult to live from a place of conscious meaningful choice in every area of life. My fifth take away from Power vs. Force is:
5. If we can empower as many people as possible to the level of 200 and above, humanity will turn from destructive to life-affirming and positively creating a better world together.
My new book ‘The SilkeyWay Method to A Meaningful Life full of Joy’ is exactly the step-by-step guide to help anybody ‘willing’ and open-minded to find their inner value compass and consciously enter the path of joy and adventure that naturally follows when we live aligned with what matters most to us. If you are interested you can download the pdf here. I also offer an 8-week interactive online course to develop your inner compass. It’s called IVALYOO and comes with coaching support for those who learn (and apply) better with accountability and caring support that allows for immediate impact on their day-to-day lives. Together, let’s raise our levels of consciousness. Whichever route each of us choose to take, I personally feel called to renew my own commitment to working towards the next level. Naturally, I prefer to not having to go through cancer again to take the next leap. One of my own values is deep connection, so I hope that deep open and vulnerable interaction with others can also induce the perspective change Hawkins sees as requirement to rise a level. I am offering my story, life wisdom and insights in my book to support others on their journey. Maybe we can support each other?
