After the soul mind has achieved some awareness of the workings of the material mind, the seeker begins to take responsibility for their own internal growth and acquires a measure of self-control over unconscious (or programmed) thoughts, words, and actions.

The shadow of soul-responsibility is rebellion. When a seeker first becomes conscious they have been living inherited programs there is usually a period of rebellion that can even lead to violence. The partially conscious soul does not yet have a balanced and adequate self-appraisal of both the limits and potentials of their own newly discovered sense of personal power.