The seven levels of deenveloping identity

If we have based our self around self-proving identities of how clever, successful, or happy we are, we are bound to come into conflict with anything or anyone that implicitly or explicitly challenges this assumed truth. The skill of spiritual intelligence is to be what is needed today, what is meaningful in this particular situation, and not to become identified with our last success or previous achievements. Always start afresh with the situation we are in.

We cannot own intelligence, we need to find it. Higher intelligence is generated afresh each day and this allows us to understand the truth of our situation each day and each moment. Warming up an old intelligence formula to feed this or that situation is a feast of cold comfort.

The identity can be seen as having seven levels. While it is inevitable that we have an identity, when we lose touch with our SQ core and the identity takes over at the expense of the growth of our real self, it can take much effort and experiment to find it again. Identity is useful as an expression that we can adopt to suit the occasion, it is the clothing of emotional appropriateness, but this can never be the core or foundation for what we do.

Meaning develops as our spiritual intelligence deenvelops the influence of our previous level of identity and attunes us to a new and higher level of self. These seven levels describe patterns of behavior and thinking that span the different levels of life, from a very small and enclosed identity life (level 1) to a life that is ever searching and engaged in the greater meanings of why we do what we do (levels 5 and above).

• Level 1-This person considers mainly the gratification of their desires, hungers, appetites. 'I am hungry, need money, feel irritated, am at work and fed up, in a marriage that I want out of.' This level of complaint can overwhelm us into basing our view of our situation, and our responses to it, almost entirely in local and short-term exigencies. We always want to be doing something different to what we are, to be somewhere different to where we are. The identity wants to recruit others to its cause to validate itself. Level 2-This person considers the physical situation. 'I am in a room, in my car, in bed, I am married, have three kids, have a job. I am a manager, a bookkeeper, a schoolteacher. I live at number 19 in this or that street.' This is more neutral, less based in temporary emotional reactions than level1. At this level we think in platitudes and not truths and say things such as 'Life is not all bad,' 'You can't win them all,' 'You have to take the good with the bad.' Life runs on by chance and mood. Like tabloid newspapers, it describes everything in terms of opinions.

• Level 3-This will be about the processes we have going on in us at any moment. 'I am generally happy, a bit unclear where my life is going, unfulfilled in my purpose. I am developing a better life style, am losing weight, am studying to improve myself. I love my family and want to give them a good life. I can't complain, could be better but could be a lot worse.' This is the beginning of the development of character, doing the decent thing, trying to be settled with our self while seeking ways to improve, although still within a limited 'my world' perception.

• Level 4-This is about certainties and uncertainties. 'My family life is settled, my children are at a good school, I am respected by my peers, I do a good day's work and am thinking about a career path that will allow me to improve our stability and standard of life. But I feel that something more is possible, and wonder what it might be.' The dissatisfaction with our level is a quality of honesty of self and indicates an openness to grow further. It seeks dialog and explores openly. It is to know that we are empty and cease to cover up.

• Level 5-This is about our situation viewed from a bigger picture than just the context of local community and domestic affairs. From this level, the individual considers the greater truth of the situation and how this greater truth oppresses us to find a deeper core to act from. Building higher qualities of character features here, for example needing to feel honorable. At this level, we cannot avoid exercising choice except by practicing self-deception.

• Level 6-This is about greater purposes than purely personal considerations. 'I have a certain number of years to do what I see is important. I am conscious of why I do what I do and want only to work for these ends.'

• Level 7-These individuals know what they want to do with their lives and are settled and committed to serving that greater purpose. Each day they find new intelligence to review the challenges of life and their life is expressed as a mission to which they are content to be of service.

St. Francis of Assisi was gardening one day and was asked by a student what he would do if he knew that this would be his last day on earth. 'Why, finish the garden,' he replied. SQ individuals express their core through everyday activities that others might view as mundane.

You might want to ask yourself which of the seven levels you see yourself living the majority of your life. When you have done this, look to the level above it. Ask yourself whether you are able to listen and attune yourself to the level above. Are you aware that it is perhaps filtering into your awareness? How can you encourage this level-what do you need to do to begin that change?