Consciousness is something that’s intrinsically in you and you don’t have to learn it but you do have to develop the ability to access it. Here are nine ways to develop consciousness.
1) Pay attention and think. Don’t be fatalistic and helplessly resigned to reality and also don’t try to force reality to go your way or try to control other people. Don’t be self-absorbed by everything you have to complain about. Make use of the consciousness that’s in you by using your ability to think. When in doubt, pay attention to everything about the situation and consider it from every possible angle until you come to a decision. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Take reasonable risks and learn from your mistakes for next time.
2) Listen to the still small voice within you. Don’t think you’re always in the right. Don’t think you’re superior to everyone else and have nothing to learn from them. In addition don’t impulsively follow the first solution that crosses your radar screen. Understand the difference between thinking you must always be right and accessing your intuitive sense for what’s right. The former is an ego trip while the latter is intrinsic awareness from a knowing core that has no need for advice or instruction from anyone.
3) Develop your emotional world. Summon up the depth of your emotions in a variety of ways: singing and music, prayer with intention, gratitude, hearing the messages of your emotions as they arise, feel for other people’s pain, be in a process of personal growth in which you access feelings of regret for past mistakes and resolve for future change. Don’t be apathetic but care about everything that happens.
4) Be amazed. Open up your eyes and get in touch with your power of amazement. Nothing in life should be habitual. For example we are used to air travel but if you think about it isn’t it amazing?
5) Choose your habits carefully. Which habits are worth keeping and which should be tossed away? Be aware of who you are and who you want to be. You can make the ideal image of yourself into a reality.
6) Think for yourself. The tendency of many religious people to insist they cannot rely on their own understanding and that it will lead to arrogance is false. It’s easier to run to a religious authority for the smallest matter rather than think for yourself. It’s not being God-fearing to run to someone for answers; it’s laziness. There is more to fear from submissiveness than arrogance.
7) Be compassionately critical. Have a critical sense, particularly regarding yourself but make sure to balance it with recognition of your strengths
8) Value your strengths. Don’t minimize the importance and value of your strengths and the strengths of others.
9) Allow yourself to be guided. The author advises the guidance of Torah. I will call it simply outside wisdom.
(Pirkei Kinyan Da’at p. 66)