Final answer:
We spend most of our lives in waking consciousness, featuring high awareness, as opposed to altered states or sleep. Consciousness includes understanding our internal and external environments and is influenced by circadian rhythms regulating our sleep-wake cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
We spend most of our lives in waking consciousness, which is organized, meaningful, and clear. Waking consciousness is characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior. It is distinct from the altered state of consciousness which may involve experiences like daydreaming, intoxication, or unconsciousness due to anesthesia. Moreover, sleep is another state we regularly encounter, marked by reduced sensory awareness and activity, yet it plays a vital role in learning, memory, and several physiological processes.
The understanding of consciousness extends to awareness of both internal states, such as thoughts and emotions, and external stimuli, including the environment around us. Circadian rhythms play a crucial role in regulating our sleep-wake cycle, and disruptions in these can lead to various sleep problems and disorders.
Throughout the various states of consciousness, including altered states induced by substances or activities like meditation and hypnosis, our awareness and interactions with our environment change significantly.