Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I'm a big fan of Preethaji. She recently led a Field of Awakening retreat in Miami that unfortunately, I had to miss. However, it got me thinking about something I learned at the last event that I am still reflecting on. At that event, Preethaji introduced the five stages of enlightenment: Consciousness, Awareness, Transformation, Awakening, and Enlightenment.
Of course, I couldn't help but think about how these stages might relate to relationships. Here's my take on it:
The first stage is Consciousness, where you begin to see the impact of your actions on your relationships. This stage can be tough because you may start to realize that some of your behaviors and attitudes have hurt the people you love.
The second stage is Awareness. This is where you realize that your actions are influenced by your inner state. You may start to notice that when you're feeling stressed or anxious, you tend to lash out at your partner or withdraw from them. But this stage is also where you can start to cultivate self-compassion. You can acknowledge that you're going through a difficult time and look inward to change your state rather than looking outward and insisting someone else to change theirs.
Next up is Transformation. This stage is all about experiencing an open heart and developing empathy and love for others. You start to see the world through their eyes and understand their perspectives.
Then comes Awakening. This is where you start to experience mystical and magical moments in your relationships. You may feel a deep sense of connection with your partner or experience moments of pure joy and happiness. Time seems to stand still as certain moments seem to last forever. Often, this can happen at the beginning of a relationship, but without the foundation of Awareness and Transformation, it doesn't last.
Finally, there's Enlightenment. This stage is about achieving undivided oneness in consciousness and freedom from suffering in your relationships. Yes, challenges will still come, but you won't suffer in them.
So, where do you see yourself in your various relationshpis?