What is Consciousness?
Oxford defines "consciousness" as "the state of being able to use your senses and mental powers to understand what is happening".
I began experiencing conscious states when I went to bed, in that silence and solitude. I could see what I was doing with my life. Didn't like it.
Being human doesn't mean being conscious. My definition of would be "percieving the reality you live in".
We aren't always aware of our existance, our tiny part in the grand scheme. When we are, though, we get the power of choice.
We aren't more than a drop in an ocean. No one is going to remember you in two or three generations, nothing you do is too important. On the other hand, you are conscious and have a will create your reality.
Consciousness is now a necessity. In this overestimulated world, you sometimes are too busy to listen to what happens in your body. You will never be able to stop it. A life of suffering is an unconscious life.
The other side of consciousness would be "ego". I define it as "the story you tell yourself about who you are". I don't think you can know yourself fully, as we constantly change. Don't limit yourself to choose differently.
Knowing yourself comes with percieving yourself completely. To do that you'll have to percieve reality as it is, face both the likeable and unlikeable parts without judgement. Then you will see yourself fully.
Life is an experience. Consciousness is awakening more everyday, because we are made for creating, loving and having fun. Your ego is a joke and a lie.
Allow yourself to be surprised and stop the suffering ;)