Most of us move through life focused on what we haven’t achieved yet, what’s missing, what’s broken, what’s next. But Sensei Kirk Ellis invites us to take a different kind of inventory, one rooted not in ambition, but in awareness.

“Compare the way you are now with the way that you were five years ago.”

It’s a simple invitation. But when you really sit with it, it becomes profound.

Ask yourself: How much have I lived in the last five years? What have I learned from success, failure, love, loss, mistakes, healing? Who have I become?

Now ask: “How much money would I take to give up all of that knowledge?” Suddenly, you begin to realize: your life experience is priceless.

The Inventory of the Soul

Sensei’s question is more than rhetorical, it’s a gateway to self-recognition. So often, we measure progress in terms of income, achievements, or milestones. But what about:

Wisdom gained through trial?

Resilience earned through struggle?

Compassion deepened by loss?

Confidence built through repeated efforts?

“They would not like to go back and be their old self again.”

Why? Because while our circumstances may not always improve the way we expect, our awareness does. And it’s awareness, not just comfort that determines our quality of life.

The Hidden Value of Time

“Think of all the living experiences that you have had… the knowledge that you have gained.”

Time passes whether we grow or not. But when we use time to evolve, to observe ourselves, to stretch our beliefs, it becomes a kind of spiritual currency. You’ve invested thousands of hours into living and that living has made you wiser, more capable, and more complete. That’s what this teaching is about: honoring the invisible, internal growth we often overlook.

When Sensei asks: “How much money would you take to go back and be the way that you are now?”

He’s not asking about regret. He’s asking you to appreciate where you are, and to recognize that five years from now, you’ll likely feel the same about this version of you.

Natural Growth: The Change You Didn’t See Coming

“I ask these questions… so they will realize that they are naturally changing themselves.”

This is one of the most encouraging truths in this teaching: you’ve already been evolving, even when you weren’t trying.

You’re not the same person you were five years ago. Why?

Because life has shaped you.

Because challenge has taught you.

Because your mind has absorbed new beliefs and perspectives.

This is the power of awareness in motion. Even without a master plan, you’ve grown.

Awareness as Currency

“They will realize how valuable their new awareness is to them.”

Let’s pause on that word: valuable.

We often undervalue internal change because it doesn’t come with a certificate or a headline. But what if:

Your increased patience is more valuable than a degree?

Your new perspective is worth more than a promotion?

Your emotional healing is a kind of spiritual wealth?

When we start to see our awareness as treasure, we stop chasing external validation—and start living from inner alignment.

Awareness Creates a New Reality

“Because of their new awareness, they have a new perspective, a different view of the world, a different belief system, a new reality.”

This is one of the most important concepts in Sensei’s philosophy:

Beliefs shape perception

Perception shapes experience

Experience shapes reality

If your awareness has changed, your reality has changed.

You:

Notice different opportunities

Respond differently to people

Think differently under stress

Prioritize different values

This is how awareness upgrades your life, silently, continuously, and powerfully.

How to Use This Insight Today

If you’re feeling stuck, discouraged, or impatient, use this teaching as a reflection exercise:

Look Back Five Years

Where were you physically, mentally, emotionally? What did you not yet know?

Inventory the Lessons

What life experiences taught you the most? What pain turned into power?

Honor the Shift

Celebrate your awareness. Write a note to your past self.

Look Ahead with Faith

Imagine the person you’re becoming in five years. What will that version of you be grateful for?

Stay Present in the Process

Growth isn’t always obvious. But it’s always happening, when you stay aware.

Final Reflection: You Are Worth More Than You Realize

It’s easy to measure your life in outcomes. But the truer measure is awareness. That’s what transforms information into wisdom, pain into purpose, and living into evolution.

“It’s their new awareness that will determine their relationship with life, and their quality of life.”

So the next time you feel behind, ask yourself:

Would I go back to who I was?

Would I trade what I’ve learned?

Would I give up the awareness I’ve earned?

If the answer is no, then you’re already wealthier than you realize.

Keep growing. Keep observing. Keep becoming.

Your awareness is your treasure, and your next chapter is already being shaped by it.

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