Philosophers, psychologists, Positive Thinkers, and more, keep talking about the importance of "consciousness", about the fundamental role this mysterious 'essence' has in your life. Another word for consciousness is "awareness". Synonyms given by the dictionary include realization, understanding, knowledge. So, being conscious or aware means to be 'awake', to be present in the moment, to have full knowledge of what is going on. My favorite author Anthony de Mello, SJ, said that most of us live a "paper life". That's a strong statement! Paper is fragile, it has a very weak consistency, it can be easily torn, burnt, destroyed. It is all but strong and powerful. It has a touchable consistence all right, it is certainly useful in many instances, but it is not apt to face "challenges". Therefore, you lead a "paper life" when you are not aware of what you are doing and why you are doing it. When you follow your whims and don't reflect about the possible consequences of your actions or words, you are 'asleep'. When you allow your life to be made of 'paper', expect it to be easily torn or shattered.
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