What the Heck is the EGO Really?

(Originally Posted: April 14th, 2015)

Today I want to break it down for the newbies and have a little refresher course for the veterans.  We hear the words ego, intuition and love all the time. But what do they really mean? Let’s dive in.

The word EGO in the spiritual world is different from the word EGO you hear when you grow up. You usually hear it referred to as someone being full of himself, etc.

The spiritual term EGO by definition is, “The part of you that defines itself as a personality, separates itself from the outside world, and considers itself, (you) a separate entity from the rest of nature and the cosmos. Perhaps necessary for survival in some evolutionary bygone, in modern times it leads only to (albeit often disguised) misanthropic beliefs and delusion. In short, ‘I’. Ego is responsible for hate, fear and delusion."

In my own experience as an inward seeker, ego has come to mean, “The part of your mind that is subconscious, the belief systems you acquired from little up caused by family, friends, society, etc. that stuck around because they were given attention over the years and you happen to then see them as true. Ego is all the fearful, unhelpful, constricted thoughts that pass through your mind. It isn’t the divine, intelligent, intuitive part of you. It doesn’t have the capacity to understand your God self, your highest self, your true self, your best self.” An example of an ego thought would be, “I’m fat. I can’t do that. That’s impossible. She’ll never like me.” And the list goes on…

What’s the opposite side of the coin? Your heart, love and intuition. Let’s take a closer look at these. 
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Heart by definition means, “The central, vital or main part; real meaning, essence, core.”

Intuition by definition is, “The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning, proof or evidence. A thing that one knows or considers likely from instinctive feelings rather than conscious reasoning. A feeling that guides a person to act a certain way without fully understanding why. For example, a hunch, feeling in one’s bones, inkling, suspicion, idea, sense, notion, premonition, gut feeling.” I’ve learned in my journeys that intuition doesn’t have to be some crazy aha moment, although it can be. It can just be as simple as a new thought you’ve never had before that came to you when you are feeling settled and not frazzled. Intuition, the truth is always quieter, yet gentle. Thought that comes to you when you are frazzled is most likely from the ego, the mind. Screw taking that as truth.

Love by definition is, “An intense feeling of deep affection, warm attachment, enthusiasm and devotion. To take great pleasure in. To hold dear.” I’ve personally come to find love to mean, “Our true nature, our natural state of well being. Truth. Peace.” But as we all know, love is far too powerful and magical to describe in words.

“So, thanks for explaining these things Jamie, but what the crap am I supposed to do with this now?”. Well, a deeper understanding is always helpful. That way, you can have your own amazing insights about it all. May I suggest beginning to recognize when you are in your heart, in love, in intuition or higher intelligence. And notice when you are in ego. This awareness will be so helpful. Many of us walk around in ego, lost in thought most of the time and don’t even know it. If you are one of these people, don’t worry. I remember the day I realized I’ve spent most of my life living in my mind and not my heart. There were only fleeting heart moments. But realizing it is so much better than going your whole life never knowing that vital piece of information. There is a whole world out there for you to explore. Trust me on that one. When you begin to feel it, you’ll know.

Here’s a helpful tidbit. When you start to notice you are in your ego, you don’t have to fight it. Just know that you are in the wrong part of your brain. If you don’t grip too hard, or try to figure it out or fight it, it will pass and something a little more peaceful will rise up. That is how the system works. Once you let go of the ego stuff, in a gentle way, new thought is on its way to you. That is your well being. That is the place where all your answers are. That is where love lies. Practice makes perfect.  

You don’t have to force it, or say affirmations, etc. This is a more passive approach. It doesn’t require trying so hard to change your mind. Your mind is designed to change for you when you step out of the way.  Change the inside and then watch the outside magically fall into place. Not the other way around like our society likes to teach. That causes disconnection and stress. It’s a big backwards. Let’s un-backwards it shall we?!

If you'd like dive deeper with me in my popular 11 day healing course, "Profound Healing Through Self Love" Click Here...The Intro and Lesson 1 are free!