Ego or Soul: Which One Guides Your Life?
Imagine what it would be like to follow your inner wisdom
Do you feel connected to your soul? Do you listen to its messages?
Recently, I’ve been listening to teachings on soulful connection from Adyashanti, a contemporary spiritual teacher who focuses on awakening.
Adyashanti defines soul in a specific and somewhat unusual way.
He doesn’t see soul as an entity but rather as a function. He calls it the guiding spirit aspect of true nature.
If you’re not familiar with the term “true nature” stay with me. I’ll explain it simply, but the main point is how you see this idea of soul and soul connection.
In non-dual spiritual traditions, true nature is seen as the awareness aspect of mind, which is always present, in contrast to thoughts, emotions, and sensations, which are constantly changing.
For example, how do you know when you’re thinking or feeling? The answer illustrates the awareness aspect of mind. There’s something more than our thoughts and emotions, isn’t there?
In Adyashanti’s framework, soul is what keeps you connected to this true nature or pure awareness.
True nature may seem like an abstract notion to you. No worries. It can still be powerful to explore what soul means to you, and whether soul or ego drives your life.
Just to stay with Adyashanti’s paradigm for a moment, which may spark new insights for you, in its role as the guiding spirit aspect of true nature, soul:
Provides inner guidance. Think of times when you were faced with a difficult situation and you went inside yourself to ponder the best action. You were probably looking to this deeper part of yourself for wise guidance.
Acts as your conscience. You have an inner way of knowing what’s “right” and “wrong” that goes beyond externally imposed rules and societal mores.
Knows when you’re in alignment with true nature (substitute true self, higher self, spirit or whatever resonates for you) and when you’re not. When you’re off in the wrong direction, isn’t there a part of you that quietly gnaws away inside?
Reminds you of your depth of being. When we’re lost in worldly concerns, reminders can appear that show you there’s more to life than the mundane and the material. It could be a radical brush with death or the sudden illness of a loved one. It might be simple and sweet like a gorgeous sunset, a line of poetry, or a child’s smile.
Life feels better when you’re aligned with your soul, doesn’t it?
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”—Socrates
What happens when you’re not in alignment?
Life can feel meaningless, overwhelming, or ridiculous. You might feel depressed, disappointed, or discouraged. Or there might be a subtle but persistent sense of discontent.
If you want to live in alignment, it’s imperative to examine your life periodically for signs of misalignment. You can also regularly ask introspective questions that help you stay aligned.
In the morning, ask: “What does my soul want for me today?”
At night, ask: “Is my soul satisfied by my day?”
At any moment, ask: “Is this truly right for me?”
Recently, I’ve been examining my writing life and whether I want to continue. I’ve been writing articles consistently for the past decade. My aim has been to help others heal and grow in some small way by providing a resonate idea, inspiration, or spark of positive impulse.
But over the years, it’s gotten progressively harder to get the word out about my writing. Brand new social media platforms give you the world in terms of views, which means more people are led to your work.
But as a platform grows and becomes successful, it installs pay-to-play. Your free views plummet and your heart sinks. You move on to the next new and exciting social media platform, temporarily reaping its rewards until it too takes a turn.
I’ve invested enormous amounts of time in all the main social media platforms: Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and a few that have died along the way like Google Plus. But it became too labor intensive for the measly return it provides.
I’m just a lone person who wants to share my writing. I don’t make big bucks. I don’t have a huge team. I don’t pay to play.
Medium isn’t a social media platform, but it runs on an algorithm too.
I’ve been writing on Medium for two years and have made steady progress, despite regular changes on the platform. But recent changes over the past few months have caused that all too familiar descent in views though the quality of my writing hasn’t changed one bit.
So I’m in a quandary friends.
“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
— Albert Einstein
Do I continue on automatic due to the sunk cost fallacy—sticking with what might be a losing plan because of how much time and energy I’ve already invested in it? Or do I wait it out to see if the situation improves?
And what does my soul think about all this?
How much of my ego identity is wrapped up in being a writer? Am I writing to serve my own ego more than I’m serving anyone else? What does my soul want for me?
Ironically, as I wrote this piece over the course of several days, one of my articles was “boosted.” That means it received extra exposure and tons more views.
It feels good to see the green bar on the stats page shoot higher and higher. But will the occasional boosted post make up for the sudden sorry showing on all my other articles?
It’s the perfect time for a deep talk with my soul, isn’t it?
Now let’s be clear. The point of the soul isn’t to tell us how to be successful in life. Its purpose is to help us stay more connected to our higher self.
But that higher self can be expressed through our actions in the world. So it’s fair to ask if this step or that one is in alignment or not.
Because after all, we do have this deeper, knowing part of us, don’t we? Why let that inner wisdom go to waste?
So ego or soul? Which one guides your life? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments.
[Photo by Tim Samuel]
My Articles
Following you’ll find “friend” links to my articles on Medium. I haven’t been writing much lately so this time, in addition to the three relatively recent articles, I’ll share a few of my best articles on another topic.
A “friend” link means you can read the articles for free without becoming a Medium member. If you’d like to become a Medium member, please use my membership referral link because I’ll earn a small but sweet bonus. Enjoy!
Most Recent
Women and Girls Have ADHD Too (An expanded version of my last e-letter)
Most Popular Quote Articles
And so you’re not confused, many of my articles are double posted on my original blog, Always Well Within. But please use my Medium links because that’s where I get paid at least tiny amounts.
Until Next Time
One day, I will have to let go of writing. I’ve already written fewer articles this year because I’ve felt a shift in priorities. But I don’t think it’s time to stop writing articles entirely. Will see as the next months unfold.
In any case, I’ll continue sending you these missives every other week at least for the foreseeable future.
Much love to you. Wishing you well, always.
xo Sandra
This issue of Wild Arisings is free for everyone. I send a new message every other week, usually on Friday. If you’d like to receive it, join the 2,900 other beautiful souls who can’t wait for the next one.
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Hello Sandra, I found your article today to be asking all the right questions---I appreciate your honesty and the clarity with which you share (and have shared in all of your articles) meaningful ideas that do, indeed, help and often comfort me. It is a tricky business to try to stay true to creative expression when the channel/medium changes the rules and you begin to question your own intention. I don't have an answer, obviously, but I think just asking the question "Ego or Soul?" can at least shine a light on our thoughts and propensities, which can be terribly helpful in accepting what is happening. Possibly even allowing ourselves to forgive and trust in this true nature (I loved that!). I realized this morning that to forgive myself and release what isn't serving isn't just about the big mistakes of the past, but is something I can do every day, every night so I can remind myself that this is a process, a journey, and I'm just at the beginning. Sorry, this turned into a journal entry...! Thank you...your newsletters always resonate! :)
Sandra, I came across this post by you today, just after my friend and I had a deep conversation about ego and false self/true self, and what that means to us. I am personally on the journey of understanding the difference between the two, and working through gradually to a new freedom as I become more aware, firstly of what is important to me and then of how much I have been programmed to act and react out of ego. As my friend and I chatted I made a comment that I instantly saw as my ego promoting itself and anticipating me being noticed, at a funeral of all things. I really didn’t like what I saw, and it made me realise that I still have far to travel! What Carol has mentioned about being aware not just of the big things and the need to change, but the small everyday things, and how our minds work resonated with me too.
Many thanks.