Becoming our Whole Person

As we move into the 2020s, a lot of people are interested in the idea of conscious human evolution and personal growth. Specifically, a range of visions promising a new human - one with superhuman or even god-like capacities - have emerged. In the realms of philosophy and psychology, the concepts of integral consciousness and evolutionary human consciousness have promoted an idea of transcending our human failures of history. The self-help field and omnipresent “hacking” memes express this idea in practical, everyday terms. Meanwhile, technology’s exponential advance invites imminent calls of conscious artificial intelligence, as well as the evolution of the human species to something, or somethings, beyond homo sapiens.

Within this landscape, it’s increasingly important to think about what it means to be an evolving or so-called “superior” person. It’s important to think about where we wish ourselves to position in the conversation. Many of the visions promoted above can be quite dystopian and scary and decidedly un-human. Even the notion of “superiority” can seem harsh, and perhaps itself an expression of historical problems.

However, as a coach, I can firmly say there is an importance to the notion of pursuing our better nature. The I Ching is often translated as advising us in the way of the superior person. Most religions and psychologies focus on such development and growth also. We need these attitudes in order to reach for the heights, stars, and branches that we dream ourselves able to reach.

To that end, I like to think about personal growth and integral consciousness through the lens of wholeness. Our capacity as people is based in our ability to truly understand ourselves from the inside out, and thereby be whole. It’s rooted in our ability to draw on the various aspects of ourselves in the decisions we make and the ways we conduct our lives.

When we use the term integral, I think this is a crucial component of what we should mean. Some philosophers think of integral as the bringing together of disparate working and academic fields to determine the underlying self-same fractals and patterns. This is fine, but any concept of expansive humanness has to be personal and begin within. It is not just ideas. It is a feeling state and relationship within.

What I try and communicate to my clients is that what a whole-person intelligence really is is the capacity to draw on and relate from the various parts of our being: mental, emotional, and physical. Wholeness is being integrated and unified in mind, body, and soul.

This means drawing your mind down into your body, and moving away from purely mentalistic ways of engaging information. When we feel as well as think, and notice how we feel about the ideas and concepts we consider, we can adaptively respond in ways that ultimately are far more fulfilling and successful. 

Feeling the world around you is a reflection of emotional intelligence. But part of what is required in the journey to gaining this ability is a peacemaking that must take place within. Jungian psychologists talk about shadow work, and this also is the work of integration. In order to safely feel, we have to be willing to sit with and understand the painful and repressed parts of our experience we have pushed away. We don’t need to overindulge or become lost in this process, but we do need to engage it and be willing, temporarily, to cross over to the “other side.” When we do, we can salvage the insights we need to stitch our worlds back together.

The integral vision of our evolving human should not be toward some ultra-intelligent, hyper-able cyborg. There is space for that, and technology inevitably, it seems, will bring us there. But in the face of that, we need something even more deeply human. We need people with the capacity to deeply discern and deeply feel, and to consciously perceive with wonder the chain of relationality they participate in, including its meaning and revelatory insight. We need people with the ability to perceive and respond professionally with wisdom, courage, and grace.

Finally, we need people with open hearts who are willing to take the steps necessary to protect and enhance the conditions that gave those open hearts life. Being whole means having a compassionate affect and open hearted nature, while also possessing clarity of mind and discerning boundaries. Wholeness is not a progressive activist or conservative religious dream. Wholeness is an expression of balance. Balance and adaptability to meet the moment’s needs.

One of the main techniques to begin accessing this type of wholeness in your life is through a somatic-oriented mindfulness practice. In simple terms, this means meditation. Rather than watching your thoughts and trying to bring your mind silent as some techniques suggest, try descending into your body and energy field to feel and observe the rising and falling of your breath, and along with it, the intricate micro movements of your emotions, physical sensations, thoughts, memories, associations, and intuitions. 

In becoming present to your internal process, you will begin to gain insight into what makes you tick and behave the way you do. As humans, one of our foundational abilities is to think metaphorically. We can recognize patterns across different layers of reality. By becoming still, we do begin to see the self-same patterns that construct our world. But we see them from the inside. We are them.

And from there, we can make a difference.

As always, if you are interested to explore what this type of work can offer you and those around you, I would love to be in touch. My introductory assessments are a great way to gain practical tools on your journey of personal growth and development. More than anything, we have the opportunity to impact the way we grow and perceive the world, one person, relationship, and moment at a time.

So let’s shape culture together.

In appreciation,

Gabe