Ego-mind vs. true-self – which one controls your life?

Peter Shrimpton helps us understand how the ego-mind vs. the true-self and how this battle affects our health and life choices.

Be honest. Have you ever heard yourself say, “From tomorrow, I’m going to manage my diabetes better? I’m going to be more health conscious, or start a new diet, or begin an exercise programme, or quit drinking?”

In short, from tomorrow you plan on being a whole new, improved you. Right?

The funny thing is, you really mean it in the moment when you make those claims, don’t you? You’re full of conviction and determined to make it happen. In fact, if anyone who knows you challenged you by sarcastically saying, “Oh sure, I’d like to see you go for a run at 6.00am, or stop drinking wine, or cut out junk food.”, you might find yourself becoming quite defensive. You may even get a little angry and shout, “Just you wait and see, I’ll show you, from tomorrow!”

But what happens when tomorrow comes? 

At 6:00am when your alarm clock rings, you roll over and hit the snooze button. You don’t get up and go for that run like you said you would. A little while later, you eat that leftover piece of chocolate cake in the fridge.

During the day, as much as you try to ignore it, that half a bottle of Merlot glares at you every time you walk into the kitchen. It seems to call out to you, “Drink me, drink me.” Needless to say, by sundowners you find yourself with a glass of wine in one hand and a ciggie in the other, while you frantically flip through a take-out menu.

Let’s face it, you didn’t stick to your plan so you may as well start again. From Tomorrow. Can you relate to this? Does it strike a chord in you?

If so, don’t panic! You’re not alone. We all do it. Every single one of us. But why?

Ego-mind vs. your true-self 

Let’s crack this nut wide open, shall we? It’s not just that you say you’re going to do something and then you don’t do it. It’s more bizarre than that! You do the opposite of what you said you were going to do.

For example, you say you’re going to eat healthily but then you go on a sugar binge. So, what gives? Do you have a split personality? Are you delusional? What’s going on? Why do you lose the plot?

The answer is simple, yet life-changing! You see, you may think of yourself as being one person because you wake up each morning, put your clothes on, go about your day, and engage with the world around you. It’s just you being you, but this isn’t the case. It may appear you’re responsible for what you think, say and do but this is an illusion. There is a hidden truth.

In fact, there are two, completely different people inside of you. Oh yes, it’s true! You have two distinct sides to yourself. They are opposites: the one is good for you, and the other is bad for you.

The one will make you sick (or sicker) and the other will sustain health and wellness. They’re called your ego-mind and your true-self.

Ego-mind

Your ego-mind is the mask you show the world. It’s who you pretend to be, not who you actually are. It’s what you’ve become. It’s who you think you should be, and who you want other people to think you are.

It tells you how to think, feel and act, and it wants to be in control all the time. It is also the culprit behind all your negative characteristics, and is therefore often referred to as your lower-self.

Be aware. Your ego-mind loves instant gratification and sensory stimulation, and will happily allow you to harm yourself and compromise your health in the present moment, if your actions satisfy your immediate desires or comforts your woes.

True-self 

On the other hand, your true-self is who you really are. It’s often referred to it as the higher-self because to access it, you must rise above your lower-self, the ego-mind.

It’s the part of you that is spiritual, eternal and divine. It’s the essence of your being. The core of your inner goodness. It is ever-present and always accessible.

When you reconnect with your true-self, you transcend the self-destructiveness, pain, misery, lack, fear, doubt and negativity of your ego-mind and you feel energetic, creative, alive and full of possibility.

Healing journey: make sense of the battle of ego-mind vs. true-self

Understanding these two facets of yourself is essential on a healing journey. It’s critical for you to be able to identify which part of you is expressing itself at any given time.

When you can tell the difference between the thoughts and feelings of your ego-mind, and the thoughts and feelings of your true-self, then, and only then, can you make conscious choices about your behaviour.

Trust me, your soul purpose in life is to find your true-self. When you live from your true-self you discover your true nature. You always do what’s best for you (and your loved ones) in the long run. You live in harmony with Mother Nature, abide by the natural laws, cut out your vices, and promote health and healing in your body every day.

Think about it: each day you either promote health in your body or disease. What do you do?  Who is controlling your life – your ego-mind or your true-self?