Within role-playing games, your character gains levels as they progress through different zones that have corresponding levels associated with them.
Within life, growth and development works the same way. As one progresses through stages of psychological development, completely them in the process, they gain levels of consciousness that correspond with these stages.
Levels align with values.
Level of consciousness can differ from your stage of development because regression can occur like a debuff, that causes you to temporarily operate at a lower level than you normally do.