From Unawareness to Awakening: 7 Levels of Awareness on the “Metacrisis”
Facing and overcoming the great challenges of our times requires individually and collectively climbing to a much higher level of awareness.
This ladder of awareness, inspired by the insightful work of Paul Chefurka, illustrates the progressive stages individuals undergo in their understanding of global sustainability challenges. It outlines the evolution of awareness, from initial unawareness to recognizing the interconnections between all world issues and the transformative opportunity they present.
1 Unaware (deeply asleep). At this stage, individuals are unaware of the major issues our world faces. Their focus is primarily on personal pursuits, such as careers, family, and individual short-term pleasures, conforming to prevailing social norms: following trends and pursuing rewards.
2 Awareness of one major problem. Individuals become aware and deeply engaged with a specific challenge, such as Climate Change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, existential risks, or growing inequality. They may wholeheartedly advocate for their chosen cause, vocalizing their concerns and remaining detached from other pressing issues.
3 Awareness of many major issues: As individuals delve into knowledge about various global challenges, their awareness of complexity and scale expands. However, there may be resistance to acknowledging new issues that could be perceived as distractions from their “highest priority problem.”
4 Awareness of the interrelatedness of all our world issues: A significant turning point is reached when individuals realize the scale of the sustainability challenge and the interconnectedness of all major global issues. This marks the emergence of a systemic thinking mindset on a global scale, even though the vastness of the metacrisis may appear daunting without an apparent solution.
5 Awareness of the metacrisis and its implications: Individuals reach a deeper understanding that the metacrisis stems from our relationships with ourselves, one another, and the natural environment — everything we do. They recognize that profound changes are needed in our thinking, actions, and approaches to address the systemic and multifaceted challenges of our times.
6 Awareness of the roots of unsustainability: A profound realization occurs that the root causes of the metacrisis lie in a flawed paradigm of separation, deeply ingrained in collective and intergenerational traumas, fears, and outdated beliefs. Individuals recognize that our ability to overcome these monumental challenges depends on collectively confronting our predicament and its underlying causes within ourselves.
7 Awareness of the opportunity for humanity: At this stage, individuals grasp that the great challenges of our time present a remarkable opportunity for collective evolution through a regenerative renaissance on a planetary scale. They understand that humanity stands on the precipice of an unprecedented awakening and expansion of consciousness. Recognizing that resolving these challenges requires a collective inner journey of healing and post-traumatic growth that starts within themselves.
While external solutions play a crucial role in addressing the symptoms of global problems, it is essential to recognize that they often overlook the underlying causes deeply rooted within ourselves. When we view these challenges as externalities, we tend to provide surface-level solutions that fail to address the core issues at hand.
One reason why many individuals remain at lower stages of awareness is the discomfort that arises during the progression through these stages. This discomfort can trigger denial and destructive beliefs and ideologies that externalize the problems: an egoic attempt to avoid confronting the delusions compensating for our inner fears and wounds. Consequently, this hinders our collective ability to develop a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between external and internal issues.
As such, it is important to remember that climbing this ladder is not a straightforward journey. It involves stages that include resistance, confusion, anxiety, grief, and moments of stepping down due to the distress they generate. Embracing this process and ourselves with patience and compassion is crucial to reaching a higher level of awareness and becoming part of the solution.
It is imperative to combine actions that address external problems, such as pollution or inequality, with efforts to address internal challenges such as resistance to change, addictions, greed, aggression, and conformity to outdated norms. Workshops that take into consideration the great challenges of our times and allow us to deconstruct our false beliefs, release our limiting fears, and heal our unresolved traumas in order to reconnect to ourselves are key. Recognizing the interrelation between these internal and external factors of unsustainability is vital to be able to provide holistic solutions that are up to the challenges of our times.
Given that the majority of people are still at the earlier stages of awareness, it becomes crucial to provide comprehensive awareness campaigns and educational initiatives. These efforts can support the evolution of collective awareness towards the higher stages, particularly stage 7. Ultimately, reaching stage 7 will enable us to guide our collective efforts and seize the opportunity for a paradigm shift that benefits all.
In the meantime, those who have reached higher levels of awareness must embody patience, resilience, and dedication as they find themselves in a society that remains largely asleep and resistant to acknowledging its predicament. By staying committed to their values and continuing to raise awareness, these individuals inspire others and contribute to the necessary raise of awareness. Together, they can create a ripple effect that fosters the collective awakening needed for systemic changes toward a regenerative transition.
Their unwavering commitment is the foundation upon which hope for a sustainable and desirable future rests.
