by Owen K Waters
In the mid-1960s, the attention of young people took a sudden turn inwards. It was as if a light switch had turned on. They suddenly awoke and said,
“Oh, yes, I remember now. The answers are to be found within.”
The mid-1960s through the mid-1970s were times of inner searching. The outside world came to be seen as materially-obsessed and insincere. If there was meaning in life, it was to be found within.
The spiritual revolution in human consciousness had begun.
In the United States, the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation refers to people born between 1946 and 1962. Today, ‘boomers’ form one-third of the U.S. population, 14% of which are metaphysical believers and seekers. These leading-edge thinkers emphasize inner spirituality and self-expansiveness. Their sense of self is that of a real, inner self rather than an outwardly-focused, ego type of self.
The true, inner self is found in silence. The inner self is who you are. It is your soul. Your inner self is your personal link to the universe and to its source, the Absolute or Infinite Being. It is in this silence that you come to realize that everything in the universe is one, that separation is actually an illusion. In the light of this inner, soul connection, you also develop your sense of unconditional love for all of life and all of humanity.
Over the years, as the boomers grew into career-making, home-making and raising families of their own, their attention became focused upon the demands of the outside world. Their spiritual awakening appeared to have been put on hold. Instead, in reality, their spiritual awareness was building strength while it waited to find expression in the outer world.
By the 1990s, boomers were seeking to express that spirituality within their lives. In the period 1990-2003, for example, 25% of British adults in the 30-59 age group deliberately downshifted. This means that they made voluntary choices to better their health and family lives, even though such choices meant earning less money.
The 1990s saw the holistic lifestyle blossom and grow to include three times more people than before. Mind, body and spirit became the new mantra of holistic living. If something is good for your mind, body and spirit, then it is, by definition, good for the whole you.
The New Awareness today focuses upon gaining inner knowing through self-realization and self-development. It fosters spiritual self-reliance without the imposition of standards or duties by an external authority. With the New Awareness, your true, inner self is your authority. Your sense of responsibility becomes powered by love rather than fear. You do no harm to others because you love your fellow human beings, not because you fear judgment and punishment. Your spiritual awareness grows into spiritual adulthood. You no longer need to be told what to do, how to think, or what your place in life ‘should’ be.
Each person’s inner self is cultivated and treasured for its uniqueness. There is always potential for self-improvement, always potential for creating a better life. Along with inner development, comes a clearer sense of intuition or insight. Suddenly, with better insight, a person’s options in life become crystal clear. With insight, you easily identify the best course of action to successfully meet any challenge.
With insight, also comes synchronicity. Life begins to fold around your envisioned plan of action, supporting it by providing opportunities and resources just when they are needed the most.
‘Quality of life’ is the new standard replacing the old ‘standard of living.’ Well-being of the whole self is paramount. Helping other people, being of real service to the world, is a natural desire which unfolds as your sense of inner connection strengthens.
Your self-esteem is boosted and healed in the knowledge that every person has a unique gift to offer the world, the knowledge that you’re going to deliver that gift, and that you’re going to love doing it!
Tell a friend…
