The effort to enlighten everyone

by Blair Warren

Many people who seek higher levels of awareness seem to believe that if others would only do the same, the world would be a better place.  Some go so far as to believe that if everyone could reach this state at the same time, the world would be an ideal place.  And so begins their quest to enlighten the world.

While I applaud the noble intention behind their efforts, I wonder if such a state is even possible, much less desirable.

George Carlin once asked, “Ever notice that anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot, while anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac?”

Something similar could be said regarding awareness:

Ever notice that anyone who is less aware than you is ignorant and anyone who claims to be more aware than you is arrogant?

People across the world will never drive at the same speed at the same time.  There are simply too many variables involved.  And as a result, “idiots” and “maniacs” will inevitably join us along the way.

Likewise, people across the world will never live at the same level of awareness at the same time for the same reason.  Too many variables involved.  And as a result, the “ignorant” and the “arrogant” will also keep us company.

But is this such a bad thing?

During my own quest for higher awareness, I have found that some amount of frustration in my life is not only beneficial to my quest, but also essential.  These “undesirable” parts of my life are what literally compel me to move forward.  And for me, some of the most powerful motivations come from people who do not share my worldview.  Given this, why should I seek to change them and risk losing the power they bring into my life?

After all, if our differences in perception and awareness are positive forces for me, perhaps they are positive forces for them as well.

Whenever I spend less time trying to change others and more time trying to change myself based on what I see in others, my urge to enlighten the world is lifted.  And in some mysterious way, the world takes care of itself in its own time.

Mark Twain once said, “Time is Nature’s way of preventing everything from happening all at once.”

Perhaps one of the things it’s preventing from happening is everyone living at the same level of awareness.  If so, who are we to fight against it?

Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 08:57 AM

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