To alleviate a social disease or dysfunction, problem, or injustice, we have to change our behavior. Alleviating HIV AIDS requires behavior changes. Addressing childhood diabetes requires effecting behavior changes. To gain more influence in city government, we have to change what we do. Self-change comes from involvement in community change. Self-change, even the smallest of changes, such as holding a door open for someone, or smiling, even if you don’t feel like it, produces higher consciousness. It produces greater awareness.
Many believe that an idea creates change. And there is some truth to that. However, for profound change to occur, we need to change our consciousness. A positive change in conduct increases or heightens our character. A negative change in conduct lowers or decreases our character. Higher character leads to broader and more developed consciousness.
To see beyond our immediate pleasures or pains and to see solutions, requires conduct that leads to consciousness. Consciousness is the knowledge that creates power.