Energetically Sucked Dry?

Maybe It’s Time to Connect With a New Consciousness

For many, the state of American society feels like an unrelenting storm—chaotic, oppressive, and maddening. Every headline, every scroll through social media, seems designed to drain us, pulling us into fear, anger, and despair.

I’ve felt it too—this gnawing sense of energetic depletion, like my inner flame is being devoured by forces far beyond my control.

But let me tell you, there’s a way out. Not through louder protests, angrier arguments, or doubling down on force, but through recalibration, a return to our core, and a deliberate shift in consciousness.

For me, the works of David R. Hawkins—Power vs. Force and The Map of Consciousness Explained (paperback and ebook) have been nothing short of a lifeline in a world gone cuckoo.

Hawkins’ wisdom feels like a Taoist beacon, a quiet light amidst the storm, reminding us that true power isn’t forceful but effortless, rooted not in control but in alignment.

The Decline and the Invitation

Let’s face it — modern America feels like it’s crumbling. The political divide widens daily, trust in institutions is plummeting, and our sense of collective purpose has shattered into a million polarized pieces. It’s easy—tempting, even—to let anger and cynicism consume us.

But Taoist wisdom teaches us that chaos contains opportunity. In every collapse, there’s the seed of renewal. David Hawkins’ work builds on this premise, offering a radical perspective: it’s not the external world that needs fixing—it’s our internal state.

When I first picked up Power vs. Force, I expected a pragmatic self-help book, something to slap a Band-Aid over the anxiety of living in these times. What I found instead was a profound understanding of how energy and consciousness shape not only our personal lives but the collective reality.

Hawkins mapped human consciousness like a Taoist chart of rivers, showing us how we flow—or stagnate—depending on our energy. Shame, guilt, and anger keep us stuck in the lower currents. Love, joy, and peace propel us upward. And in that map, I found clarity: the world won’t change until we do.

A Taoist Lens on Hawkins’ Map

Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness resonates deeply with Taoist philosophy. It’s a ladder, a river, and a mirror all at once—a dynamic, living system that reflects the state of our inner world.

Shame and Guilt: These lowest levels of consciousness feel like the cold, stagnant waters of winter. Taoist teachings remind us to honor these phases but not dwell in them. They are moments to reflect, not permanent states.

Anger and Pride: These are fiery energies, powerful but ultimately destructive if unchecked. Hawkins’ warns against getting stuck here. Taoism agrees, urging us to flow beyond ego-driven force into effortless alignment.

Courage: The turning point. In Taoist terms, courage is the moment we surrender to the flow of the river, trusting it to carry us where we need to go.

Hawkins’ insight—that a single person vibrating at love (500) counterbalances thousands stuck in fear (100)—hit me like a lightning bolt. Imagine the impact if each of us chose to raise our vibration, to embody peace and compassion instead of rage.

How I’m Personally Applying Hawkins’ Teachings

In the turbulence of recent years, I’ve often found myself slipping into anger and disillusionment. But Hawkins’ teachings have become a daily practice—a Taoist ritual of recalibration.

Here’s how:

Neutrality as Liberation: Neutrality (250 on the scale) is a game-changer. When I let go of needing the world to align with my expectations, I find freedom. It’s not apathy; it’s a deliberate choice to flow with life rather than fight against it.

Courage as a Gateway: Each time I choose courage over fear—whether by speaking my truth or embracing uncertainty—I feel an unmistakable lightness, as if I’ve stepped into the river’s current.

Love as Strategy: Love isn’t a soft sentimentality; it’s the most radical, transformative force there is. Hawkins calls it a higher vibration. Taoism calls it alignment with the Tao. I’ve seen its power firsthand in relationships, work, and even my inner dialogue.

Stillness as Power: Meditation has become my anchor. In stillness, I access a reservoir of peace that no external chaos can touch. Hawkins and Lao Tzu would agree: true power emerges in silence.

Why This Matters Now

Hawkins’ work feels more urgent today than ever. Everywhere we look, forces are trying to drag us into lower states of consciousness— fear-mongering media, divisive politics, economic uncertainty. But as Hawkins and Taoist philosophy remind us, we’re not powerless.

It doesn’t take millions to shift the collective energy. A small number of individuals vibrating at love, courage, or peace can create a ripple effect that transforms the world.

I’ve felt this shift in my own life. When I choose higher consciousness, problems seem to dissolve. Conversations flow effortlessly. Opportunities appear. And when I falter (because I’m human), Hawkins’ map helps me course-correct, pulling me back into alignment with the Tao.

A Final Word for the Disenchanted

If you’re feeling energetically devoured, know this, you’re not alone. The chaos you feel is real, but it’s also a call to rise—not by fighting harder, but by elevating your consciousness.

As Hawkins said, “What you are looking for is within you.”

Taoist wisdom echoes the same truth: stop swimming against the current. Instead, flow with it, recalibrate your energy, and watch how the world transforms around you.

The most radical act in a world gone cuckoo? Vibrate higher. Choose peace. Choose love. The river of life will carry you the rest of the way.

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Diamond- Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist