Our ability to make productive use of information and feedback from others and our Higher Guidance is important for those on the spiritual path. 

The term “Higher Guidance” is our shorthand reference to our own High Self, guides, angels, the Universe, and the Divine (God).  It can also include light beings and other unique spiritual entities.

However, we also need a way to interpret the incoming information so it will make sense to us.

One way to see ourselves more clearly is by using a communications theory model called Johari Window, also known as Johari’s Windows.  It was developed by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harry Ingraham at the University of California in 1955.  Johari is an altered spelling of the combination of their first names.

At spiritual events, people often ask me questions that are answered by their guides, High Self, angels and the like.  I find that explaining their guides (etc.) responses through the lens of Johari’s Windows helps make those answers clearer.

As shown in the image above, there are four panes (windows).  In the interest of clarity, I have taken some liberties in labeling each numbered window.

(1) Things we know about our self that others also know.

(2) Things others know about us that we are not aware of.

(3) Things we know about our self that others are not aware of.

(4) Things that neither we nor others know about our self.

Let’s explore each of these windows through the perspective of our spiritual life and growth.

Window 1 — Things we know about our self that others also know.

This is where almost all conversations begin, even in interactions with our Higher Guidance. 

In this window pane most of what is discussed is seen through a common lens.  Everyone in the conversation sees the information and insights in a similar way, although not exactly the same.

Because we are energetic beings, we naturally tune into those “things” that we talk about.  Everyone does it.

As we speak, we are connecting with, and bringing into our shared conversation, the energies of the topics being discussed.  If we talk about cars, we bring in car energy.  If we speak of a certain being, such as Archangel Michael, his energy will be connected to and brought into the conversation.  In fact, he might even show up.

That is why it is important to avoid bringing up topics that will dampen the energetic spiritual crescendo by discussing subjects that are discordant or negative in nature.  It is best to talk about heavier issues at the appropriate time and place, where the focus can be to transmute those negative energies to Light.

With this energetic nature in mind, our Higher Guidance will use this first window to get us mentally, emotionally and spiritually grounded in a way that will help us to use the information they are about to impart, or grasp the essence of the experience they are about to render.

They may communicate in words, with energy, or both, to align us so that we may be able to receive, absorb and integrate whatever they have for us.

This window sets the communication stage for our growth and greater success!

Window 2 – Things others know about us that we are not aware of.

In spiritual terms, information in this window sometimes comes through in a way that doesn’t make sense to us.  It can be things that our friends, family, or Higher Guidance tell us.

Although we can hear their words, we may not understand the intended meaning.  Or, we may feel that it does not apply to us at that moment.

Achilles Heel

Over the years, it has become apparent that much of the key learning in most people’s lives happens at their Achilles heel, or their blind spot.

With that said, when unexpected good things happen, that’s fine.  It’s the undesired events that we would like to know about before they occur.

Suddenly and out of the blue, we are caught unaware by some event, news, or other happening that really disrupts the flow of our life.  It may have costs in personal, financial or even social terms.  It can be internally or externally driven.  For our purposes, it doesn’t matter.

In Retrospect We Can See Clearly

Later, in retrospect, we will look back on the event and see where the informational guideposts, or possibly warning signs, were present in our life but we either missed them or chose to ignore them.

Unique Divine Communications

This is where Window 2 comes in.  Our Higher Guidance, i.e., High Self, guides, angels, especially the Universe and Divine (God) will use innocent events to provide us signals or warnings about what lies ahead of us in our life.

Our friends, family and strangers are often unknowingly used to relay “guidepost” messages.  Their innocuous remark, opinion, or “helpful feedback” could be a message from one of the many sources of our Higher Guidance.  This is something we should listen to, even if it bruises our ego.

These events and messages let us know if we are on or off track with our Life Plan.  They can happen, or be received in a way, that seems detached from the normal rhythm of our day-to-day routines.  They may seem small and insignificant at the time.  They can appear to originate from outside of us; that someone or something else brought them into our life.

Yet, they are actually key signals, perhaps a cosmic siren, to let us know that we need to take heed. 

Be Aware of Odd Events, Unusual Messages

Therefore, when we are the recipient of an odd, unusual communication, or experience a weird event that feels totally unrelated to our life, this is almost certainly a message from our Higher Guidance that needs to be explored and understood as to what it is pointing to.  The type of “weird” event may lend a clue to the areas of our life where we need to look for insight and awareness.

We can look inward for answers or ask trusted friends, family, a spiritual confidant — whoever we know that will give us the information straight. 

Sometimes, we may be surprised to find that everyone except us already knew that our life path was heading in a particular direction.

Window 3 – Things we know about our self that others are not aware of.

These are the secrets we keep.  There may be very good reasons that we keep them to our self.  We may not share with coworkers details about our spiritual life.  This is often prudent, as they are not interested in the subject or ready to discuss the topic with sincerity.

Most people are selective of what information they share, and with whom they share it.  This “information editing” allows us to tailor each relationship in life to our liking.

We do this by keeping unwanted information away from others for both positive and negative reasons, alike.  Because if they were aware of it, the nature of the relationship could change to something that is not desired, or less than ideal. 

That is why some of the things we keep hidden from others can also point to unresolved issues in our own life.

Except for spiritual masters, most of us carry emotional and spiritual baggage, i.e., energetic attachments, that affect our decision making at the non-conscious level.  Baggage or energetic attachments can become filters to our emotional, mental and spiritual clarity.

Are we making a decision or are we allowing the unresolved issues contained in our emotional baggage to make it for us?

For our own highest good, it is recommended that we look at what information we choose to withhold from others.  And more importantly, why do we withhold it?  Is it prudent or are we avoiding dealing with an issue in our life?  It is very often the latter.

By looking at what we chose to keep hidden from others, we can prevent or mitigate an unresolved issue from erupting into something undesirable.

Window 4 – Things that neither we nor others know about our self.

Now, the Divine (God) knows everything about us, but there are even things of which our guides and angels are not aware.

All those who make up our Higher Guidance don’t keep information from us because they want us to fail or experience hardship.  Rather, it is quite the opposite!

Everything In Its Time

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV), it states “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” That is, all things need to happen in their proper time and sequence.

Our spiritual growth is like that, as well.  Let me share a personal story as an example of why flowing with Divine timing is important to us.

My Friend and Divine Timing

Years ago, when I was living in Hawaii, a friend asked me when he was going to meet his proverbial “Ms. Right?”  He was in a relationship with a woman at that point, but it was going nowhere. 

I looked and saw that he would meet a more compatible person in about six months.  Now, my Higher Guidance informed me then that I was not to tell him the information.  My friend was not to know.  Well, my left brain took over and I told him anyway.

Soon after, he broke up with his girlfriend.  He figured, why waste time with her since a more ideal relationship was awaiting him?

Six months went by and he told me that he still hadn’t met this new, special person.  I looked to find out why. 

What I found out later was that he was supposed to continue dating that girlfriend.  By doing so, he would have learned more about what he truly wanted and didn’t want in a special someone as well as a future mate.

That relationship would have also provided him with the learning to allow him to recognize this new woman in the months to come.  Because he broke up with his old girlfriend too soon, he was unable to recognize Ms. Right when she finally came along.

Later on, he did have more relationships that helped him gain the learning he needed before finding his future mate.  However, I was told later that Ms. Right was the one who would have been the ideal teacher as part of his higher Life Path.

It would have accelerated his growth by meeting Ms. Right, if I had kept the information to myself six months earlier and not told him anything about the new girlfriend.

Unlike what I did, our Higher Guidance will only reveal information to us when we are ready and when it will benefit our spiritual growth.

Use Events to Illuminate Our Hidden Aspects

Knowing that, we can gain insights into those hidden aspects of our self in this window, by paying attention to the ongoing messages and events in our life as they are revealed by our Higher Guidance.

As before, these messages and events may appear to point to things that have nothing to do with us.  But clearly they do – because they happened in our life.

They are signposts and guideposts that foretell of upcoming events in our life path, both positive and negative.  It is best to pay attention to them sooner rather than later.

Propel Us on the Higher Pathways of Our Life Plan

As we look more closely and observe the events and messages of our life, this new skill-set will become yet another tool to help propel us onto the higher pathways of our Life Plan.  

We call that our Soul’s High Path, which is there for each of us to find and follow, if only we have the courage.