“One popular explanation of consciousness is that it’s the sense that there’s something it’s like to be XYZ — for example, a horse has consciousness because there’s something it’s like to be a horse. Viewed in that way, a rock probably does not have consciousness. But human consciousness is a horse of a different color, in that we have self-aware consciousness. Whether by gift of G/god or evolution, we have a unique view of ourselves (including our mortality) —  as if each of us has a Mini-Me (sometimes referred to as a “homunculus”) who resides in our forehead and watches us live our life. Imagine your life as a movie and your homunculus as the guy/gal in the projection booth. Then imagine getting out of your seat in the audience and going up to the projection booth to see your life from that perspective for a change. Fun stuff….”