“Every new breakthrough into consciousness has to struggle against opposition from human egocentricity and conventionality.” This quote is from John A. Sanford’s book Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language. Dr. Sanford was a Jungian analyst, Episcopal priest, and author of several books, many of which were about Christianity, spirituality, and Jungian psychological concepts, and their interrelationship. This quote points out two of the most common challenges people face as they try to grow in consciousness.
It is difficult for most, and possibly all, people to make changes. It’s especially difficult when the ideas for what to change and how to change come from a source other than ourselves. Growing in consciousness occurs as we hear our inner voice. Doing our best to follow the direction we are given by our inner voice requires courage and sacrifice. The “human egocentricity” to which Sanford refers gets in the way—questioning, wanting the direction to be different, wanting change to be easier. Each new breakthrough into consciousness is another step that leads to a more genuine and centered way of experiencing life, and thus to having a more meaningful life. It requires recognizing that our egos are not the most important part of our psyches. The self, to use Jung’s term, or the inner voice, to use a more spiritual term, is far more important.
Growing in consciousness leads toward our becoming the unique persons we were created to be, which results in living more purposeful lives. Being unique means not automatically doing what most people do, not “following the crowd.” There are times when following our own paths feels uncomfortable and even painful. Quite often people we know don’t necessarily like the changes they see in us and they let us know that either overtly or in more subtle ways. They are part of the “opposition from conventionality” about which Sanford writes.
As difficult as these forms of opposition are, doing our best to follow our path is what will bring a sense of peace and purpose. We only need to look at the problems of modern society to see that egocentricity and conventionality do not lead to happiness and calm. In addition to a sense of peace, growing in consciousness helps to develop compassion, selflessness, and wisdom—qualities that truly do matter.