Get beyond the fear and doubt of your ego mind

In this blog and on my podcast, I often talk about the ego.

[I even have a whole podcast series on ego interference in spiritual practice – you can check out the first episode on self-doubt here: Ego Interference #1.]

This is because ego is one of the greatest obstacles – if not THE greatest obstacle – to spiritual expansion and healing.

Ego is the mask we wear out in the world to look a certain way, to fit in, to be accepted.

Ego is the outward-facing identity we’ve all developed to be liked and/or to avoid rejection.

Ego is the part of us that’s always working overtime to make sure we’re “safe” and that nothing is changing.

Change – or even the thought of change – is very threatening to the ego.

Ego wants to maintain the status quo, even if that status quo has been draining the life and joy and energy out of us.

Ego wants to stay in control… control over you, your thoughts, your behaviors, your decisions, and how others perceive you.

Ego is also the part of us that seeks to “protect” us – like an overbearing, anxious, helicopter parent.

To “protect” you from rejection, criticism, failure, embarrassment, or whatever else your ego fears, the voice of ego might chime in with:

• Are you sure that’s a good decision you’re making??
• What if you can’t handle it?
• What if things go wrong?
• What if you’re not smart enough, good enough, or worthy enough?
• Your ideas are terrible, and you better not even try to create something new! It’s all been done before… much better than you could do it.
• Stay in your little bubble, and you’ll be ok.

In all of these examples, you can see how ego uses DOUBT as one of its primary tactics to hold you back and keep you from expanding or going beyond your comfort zone.

Ego is very skilled at introducing doubt into our thoughts and decisions… making us waver, feel unsure, and second-guess our intuitive awarenesses and inner knowing.

This has a paralyzing effect, which is exactly what the ego intends (because paralysis = nothing changes).

Ego believes it’s “protecting” you by introducing doubt and making you question yourself, your talent, your brilliance, your worthiness, your capacity to change and heal. (Or by making you overthink and overanalyze everything – been there, done that!)

The good news:

Once you recognize this kind of doubt as a form of ego protection, you can see it for what it really is.

Perhaps you can see how it’s paralyzed you in the past, or made you question your intuition, your creativity, your desire to expand.

And you can begin CHALLENGING this form of ego doubt, every time you become aware of it.

So if ego says, in a snarky tone, “are you sure that’s a good decision you’re making??”

You can come back with: “you know, I’m still in the process of making this decision and I can’t know 100% for sure that it’s a good decision. It feels aligned right now, and I’m going to follow my inner guidance on this – trusting that I’m capable of making great decisions for myself, and also trusting that no matter the outcome, I can flow with life and use whatever happens to grow and learn more about myself. Thanks for your input, though!”

If ego says: “what if things go wrong?”

You can counteract with: “what if things go exactly as they’re meant to go, for the highest good of myself and anyone else involved?” or “what if things turn out more beautiful, more aligned, more ease-full than ever before?” [I call these positive what-if questions… they’re powerful for standing up against doubt and catastrophizing.]

As you practice this, DOUBT – as a form of ego protection – begins to dissolve. It begins to lose its grip on you.

Ego may still be there, because we’re human and we’re never fully getting “rid” of it – but it doesn’t control you anymore.

It doesn’t control what you think or choose or say or do. It doesn’t run the show anymore.

Ego steps into the background, its voice much smaller and quieter… no longer paralyzing you.

Its voice might return, for a brief moment here or there, to try to introduce doubt or confusion or to make you question your value and brilliance.

But when it does, you can chuckle at it.

You can say, “ego, old buddy! Haven’t heard from you in a while. Good to know you’re still there, and I’m NOT taking the bait this time!”

With love,
Josephine