Final answer:
Consciousness is personal due to unique and subjective experiences, selective with directed attention, continuous as it follows an ongoing narrative, and constantly changing in response to internal and external influences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Consciousness is considered personal because it consists of individual experiences that are unique to each person. This includes our internal perceptions, such as thoughts and emotions, and sensory experiences of the external world. These experiences, or qualia, are inherently subjective and cannot be directly accessed by others, making them deeply personal. Consciousness is also described as selective because we direct our attention to certain stimuli and ignore others. For example, you might focus on a conversation while tuning out background noise. This selectivity helps us to filter and prioritize the vast amount of information that our senses constantly receive.
Moreover, consciousness is continuous in that it generally follows a smooth, ongoing narrative through our lives. Despite changes in awareness, such as transitioning from wakefulness to sleep, our stream of consciousness unfolds over time, stitching together a story of our existence.
Finally, consciousness is changing because our subjective experiences and levels of awareness are dynamic. They shift and evolve, influenced by both internal states, like emotions and biological rhythms, and external factors, like our environment and social interactions.