Subtle state shifts (SSS)

One of the reasons that inner experiences receive so little attention against the sledgehammer world of logic, scientific evidence & external objectivity is that they are fleeting, internal & easily forgotten. Unfortunately, what is lost may not just be the memory but the experiential shift which can include deep insights, higher states of self worth, realizations of truth & wholeness.

In taking backgrounds of clients I would ask then about their beliefs and throw in the comment “have you had any unusual experiences, seen a ghost or something you couldnt explain”. I estimated about 30% commented on something important but also interesting was how they often would say no & then “wait a minute there was this time, you’ll probably think I’m crazy but….”. My point here is that firstly experiences are often mentally shelved & secondly they are embarrassed to express them.

So the ‘cocky’ world of objective hard evidence, visual, observable, measurable scientifically proven is showcased in public life but the private subjective is shunned as dismissable. This implies that all people who are mentioning subjective experiential states are 1. Suspect. 2. Making it up for show. 3. Lying 4. Not remembering exactly as it was. etc. My experience is that when people tell me such things they are: genuine, convincing & clearly stating some important experience that they actually had! Why should I be so arrogant as to say, well this is obviously rubbish & you are crazy? On top of this, recent & consistent reports seem to suggest something like 46% of people have had a paranormal experience. Current population of 8 billion (2023) means 3.6 billion people are lying, imagining & crazy. Really? If you think that maybe you should have an objective, evidence based look at yourself!

Let’s look at this a little. If you love your partner or children is this not like a sacred statement of truth. Or are you making it up? Perhaps you arent sure & its sort of politically correct to say such things. If they asked ‘do you love me’ would you say, “wait a minute I will conjure up some love for you”. Just like cupid’s bow love is not something under our control it happens to us. Yet this makes the world go round as they say. Not objective, highly subjective, invisible (the experience) & not measurable. Does this not apply to meaning, sense of purpose, belief, fun, creative insights, appreciation of music, faith, integrity, self worth, joy, vision, goals, confidence, appreciation of beauty, wisdom, gratitude, imagination & sexual attraction. Without being technical, wouldnt you say that all most all of these are internal, subjective, invisible & immeasurable? Where is the leathernecked attitude of “I have faith in that which I can see and touch?”

Returning now to subtle state shifts (SSS). I needed to make the above points to demonstrate how hard it is for us to honour experiences which are even more sublte than the above. So you could be sitting by a river & have an epiphany, it is beautiful, full of revelations & even having that experience reminds you of your connection to a higher world. Then you go home to talk to your partner who is busy fixing the tap washer & they hear the word epiphany & you get back something like “oh really, that’s great honey?” They weren’t there and it can feel like casting pearls amongst swine. (lest they trample them to dust).

So what can you do?

1. Be prepared in advance that when you are having an SSS that it will be hard to remember later, the experience will fade, as does your confidence in its validity.
2. So ask yourself ‘now’ is this a shifted state? Does its impact feel real, valid & important.
3. What am I experiencing, whats the most important elements of this?
4. Commit to honour this later & allow that the experience will fade but not the truth of it. (See also Bearing points & Joint Knowing