“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” – Lao Tzu
Lao Tzu’s work is always delivered in simplicity, but contains deeply layered wisdom. What could Lau Tzu possibly have meant by a “higher dimension of consciousness”? Is he asking us to ascend to higher dimensional states of being, and which dimension would be good enough? The 5th, 6th, 16th…?
Actually the answer is much simpler:
Take a look at this rectangle:
It exists in two dimensions.
It has 2 sides, length and width.
In this example it represents me, and my problems.
Or as in Lao Tzu’s quote, my level of awareness.
Take a look at this circle.
It also exists in 2 dimensions.
In this example it represents someone else and his problems.
Or as in Lao Tzu’s quote, his level of awareness.
How often do we each get stuck in this 2 dimensional level of awareness? Me just seeing my own need for survival, and the same for the human I am dealing with. I double down on my “truth” because I can clearly see that it is a rectangle that we’re dealing with, and likewise for the human in front of me refusing to let go of his “truth”, because his eyes clearly show him the circle that he believes we are dealing with.
And often even if we try to each see things from the others’ point of view, while we’re stuck in this 2 dimensional level of thinking the best that we can come up with after trying to take each other’s interest to heart, is probably some kind of rounded rectangle. This might be a step in the right direction, but do we in fact have a clear picture of what we’re dealing with?
It’s only when we can literally see from a higher dimension, that we are able to realize that the reality of what we’re dealing with is a cylinder…
While we’ve learned to visually recognize the 3 dimensional qualities of the objects in the world around us, we often do get stuck in a 2 dimensional awareness in our minds – me and my problem.
How can we train our minds to heed Lao Tzu’s advice and think and see from a higher dimension of awareness?
Are you able to look at your own thoughts? Are you able to watch yourself thinking with a curious interest in what your brain produces? This space of being the observer of your own thoughts is something that is expanded greatly by regular meditation, to the point that it becomes the default way of viewing yourself and the world – with the wisdom of the observer.
Eckhart makes this wisdom quite practical:
“The moment you realize you are not present, you are present. Whenever you are able to observe your mind, you are no longer trapped in it. Another factor has come in, something that is not of the mind: the witnessing presence.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Don’t judge or analyze what you observe. Watch the thought, feel the emotion, observe the reaction. Don’t make a personal problem out of them. You will then feel something more powerful than any of those things that you observe: the still, observing presence itself behind the content of your mind, the silent watcher.” – Eckhart Tolle
“Observe your thoughts, don’t believe them.” – Eckhart Tolle
When your own thoughts become an object of interest instead of something you feel wrapped up in or even drowning in, then more sides and angles become visible to you – literally seeing from a higher dimension of awareness.
Some affirmations to cultivate perspective from a higher dimension:
- “I am not my thoughts; I am the aware space in which thoughts arise and leave.”
- “When I observe without judgment, I see dimensions of truth previously hidden from me.”
- “My perspective is both valid and also incomplete – both truths can coexist.”
- “I choose curiosity over certainty, allowing reality to reveal itself fully.”
- “The still, witnessing presence within me is wiser than any single thought or emotion.”
By embracing the wisdom of Lao Tzu and practicing the art of observation, we can unlock new dimensions of understanding, fostering personal growth and a more profound connection with ourselves and the world around us.
Today’s LIVE meditation is: The observer
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/X-TGbdt1TuE 2024
https://youtu.be/KN_GgbviKo8 2023
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
Write down your favourite affirmation on a sticky note and place it somewhere that you’ll be able to see it the whole day.
- “I am not my thoughts; I am the aware space in which thoughts arise and leave.”
- “When I observe without judgment, I see dimensions of truth previously hidden from me.”
- “My perspective is both valid and also incomplete – both truths can coexist.”
- “I choose curiosity over certainty, allowing reality to reveal itself fully.”
- “The still, witnessing presence within me is wiser than any single thought or emotion.”
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
The Rectangle I’m Defending: Write about a situation where you’ve been absolutely certain you were right. Describe your “rectangle” in detail—your perspective, your truth, your evidence. Now imagine you’re looking at a cylinder instead. What might be on the other side that you haven’t been able to see? What would change if you discovered your rectangle was just one view of a larger reality?
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
Q1: What does it actually mean to “see from a higher dimension of consciousness”?
A: It means expanding your awareness beyond your immediate, personal perspective (the two-dimensional view) to include broader context and multiple viewpoints simultaneously (the three-dimensional view). Just as a cylinder appears as a rectangle from one angle and a circle from another, life situations contain more complexity than any single perspective can capture. Higher dimensional consciousness means being able to hold multiple truths at once and see the fuller picture.
Q2: How is observing my thoughts different from thinking my thoughts?
A: When you’re thinking your thoughts, you’re identified with them—they feel like “you,” and you’re carried along by their momentum. When you’re observing your thoughts, there’s a gap between awareness and the thoughts themselves. You become the witness rather than the participant. It’s the difference between being in the river and standing on the bank watching the river flow. Both are valid experiences, but observation gives you choice and perspective that identification doesn’t.
Q3: Does this mean my perspective is wrong and I should always defer to others?
A: Not at all. Your rectangle is real—it’s just not the complete picture. The practice isn’t about abandoning your truth; it’s about recognizing that your truth and someone else’s seemingly contradictory truth can both be accurate views of a larger reality. The goal is to move from “either/or” thinking to “both/and” awareness, which actually honors your perspective while making room for others.
Q4: I’ve tried meditation but can’t stop my thoughts. Does that mean I can’t access this higher awareness?
A: The goal of meditation isn’t to stop thoughts—it’s to change your relationship with them. Thoughts will keep coming; that’s what minds do. The practice is noticing that you’re thinking, which itself creates the observer position. Even the moment of frustration about not being able to stop thinking is an opportunity: can you observe the frustration? That observation is the higher dimension of awareness, right there.
Q5: How can I practice this “witnessing presence” in daily life, not just during meditation?
A: Start with simple check-ins throughout your day. Set gentle reminders to pause and ask: “What am I thinking right now? What am I feeling?” Don’t judge the answers—just notice them. In conversations, practice listening to your own words as if you were a third person in the room. In conflicts, pause and ask: “Am I seeing the rectangle or the cylinder?” These micro-moments of awareness accumulate into a sustained practice.
Q6: What if observing my thoughts makes me feel detached or disconnected from life?
A: This is a common misconception. The witnessing presence isn’t cold or removed—it’s actually more present and alive than identification with thought. When you’re lost in anxious thoughts about the future or regrets about the past, you’re disconnected from life. When you’re observing those thoughts, you’re actually here, now, fully present to what is. The witnessing presence can feel emotions deeply without being overwhelmed by them.
Q7: How long does it take to make this shift from two-dimensional to three-dimensional awareness?
A: It’s not a destination you arrive at; it’s a muscle you strengthen. You might experience moments of expanded awareness immediately—that flash of insight when you suddenly see beyond your own perspective. But cultivating it as a consistent way of being takes regular practice. Most people notice meaningful shifts within weeks of daily meditation, but the practice itself becomes the reward. Each moment of observation is already the higher dimension, regardless of how “good” you think you are at it.