George Ivanovich Gurdjieff
Becoming More Awake
What draws me to Gurdjieff is his insistence that real growth—the kind that actually matters—comes from waking up. Not just going through the motions, but becoming more conscious of how we think, feel, and act. He believed that the evolution of a human being isn’t automatic. It takes effort, attention, and a willingness to see things as they are, especially within ourselves.
He talked about three parts of us that often work separately: our mind, our body, and our emotions. Most of us go through life letting one of those dominate, but the real shift happens when we bring them into balance. When we think, feel, and move in harmony, we begin to live more fully, more intentionally.
“A remarkable man stands out from those around him by the resourcefulness of his mind, and who knows how to be restrained in the manifestations which proceed from his nature, at the same time conducting himself justly and tolerantly towards the weaknesses of others.”
Gurdjieff also had this fascinating way of describing how things change. He believed everything in life follows certain patterns. One of them is the idea that every event or outcome is shaped by three forces—one that pushes, one that resists, and one that helps the two come together. The other is that nothing ever moves in a straight line. Progress happens in steps, with highs and lows built into the process. That helped me understand why things can fall apart just when they seem to be going well—and how to keep going anyway.
But maybe the most powerful part of his work is the call to be sincere. Not in a performative way, but deeply honest—with ourselves and others. Gurdjieff believed that sincerity opens the door to inner freedom. When we stop pretending, when we act from a place of truth, we begin to live in a way that’s no longer dictated by habits or fears.
For him, the goal wasn’t perfection—it was becoming more real. He encouraged people to live with awareness, to prepare for old age with peace of mind, and to take life seriously, but not sleepwalk through it.
His teachings remind me that freedom isn’t something we’re given—it’s something we grow into.