We use the term “consciousness” to refer to how you experience the world. This use of consciousness includes all of your perceptions, both conscious and unconscious. A closely related term is worldview. At times, how you experience the world may feel completely involuntary. “I view the world this way because the world is this way – what other way is there to view it?” It can be very difficult to shift a firmly entrenched model of reality. We can get pretty attached to what we think is true, important, and real – even when presented with evidence to the contrary. To a great extent, our worldview determines our perception of reality. What our worldview doesn’t expand to contain quite literally escapes our perception. We just don’t see it. This perception of reality colors our reactions and actions, every moment of every day.
Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life, by Schlitz, Vieten and Amorok, p. 18.