The Transformation of Consciousness

I wonder about our true self and what it is. Is our true self/the essence of what we are, the same as Atman or is it something that is even beyond Atman? Since we all are in the process of shifting our awareness from jiva to Atman, does that mean that both jiva and Atman are different points of view or two different ways of experiencing what is? Is it really possible for consciousness to be pure and totally objective? As soon as there is awareness, isn’t it also automatically directed somewhere, for ex. in the best case towards Atman?