It may be said that the over-reaching goal of the soul is for its consciousness to master the nature of ego.  This may be understood as learning to detach from influence of the lower self.  The ego and lower self keep you grounded in lower enegy levels you don't need.

At a given moment, people only function at the level of awareness they're at. You aren't expected to be on the same wavelength as everyone.  In fact, based on your current perception, this won't happen in your sense of the physical world. You are however, meant to cease comparing and judging and to learn to accept wider responsibilities.

To get past your denial system would represent a new level of progress.  Each step means you are raising your conscious awareness. Denial is a technique you use to prevent you from getting-to know your authentic self.  Its impossible for you to measure the extent of your awareness because you limit yourself based on what you think you know now. 

What  matters is your sense of growth.  More direction exist that youcurrently perceive or even imagine.  The direction and extent of growth doesn't matter.   You may think a person cannot change what isn't seen.  That isn't exactly true.  What you permit yourself to see is what you see.  This changes as you choose to work through  your own defenses.