Wise Decisions

Chapter 16Voice Training 101

Let's start with this:

The only path to self‐directed change is through the door of reflective consciousness.

Humanity's greatest asset is its capacity for the kind of deep reflective consciousness that gives rise to personal transformation. It is the capacity to be aware that one is aware, to be conscious of what one is thinking or saying both privately and publicly, to be fully conscious of one's own awareness. Reflective consciousness is the essential difference that separates humans from all other species.

The Evolutionary Upgrade with No Equal

Reflective consciousness is truly nature's evolutionary masterpiece. Without it, our future would be determined solely by the interaction of our environment and our genetic makeup. The mechanisms by which nature transformed simple consciousness into reflective consciousness is a profound neurobiological mystery. Put another way, how nature transformed three pounds of neurons and brain tissue into the human capacity for self‐awareness and reflective consciousness is beyond our current understanding. Little by little, however, the scientific community is beginning to unravel this remarkable genetic mystery.

All species in the animal kingdom, including humans, possess the capacity for awareness. A deer or bear in the forest possesses a keen awareness of its environment. Any unusual sound, smell, or movement mobilizes the animal for immediate action to enhance survival. All animals, as well as humans, ...