If you are someone who is just dipping their toes into the spiritual community, first of all, I’d like to say welcome!
Welcome to a space of healing, love, and acceptance. I hope your journey serves you well and I truly hope you discover all the magic and wonderful aspects of yourself!
You may find that when it comes to spirituality, you will hear others talk about the Higher Self and the Ego.
But, what is the difference between Higher Self and Ego?
I’ve talked a little bit about the Higher Self and Ego in other blog posts that you can check out for yourself, but this will be the first time I tell you how to figure out the difference between the two.
And once you can tell the difference, you’ll be able to trust your intuition and bypass fear, doubt, or other low energies that don’t serve you and your journey. You’ll be able to manifest your dream life, become your most authentic self, listen to your intuition, reach your highest potential, and just so much more!
It has taken me so much trial and error to figure this out throughout my life. I’ve had wonderful opportunities from other manifestation teachers to learn more about our Higher Self and Ego. And from the knowledge I learned, as well as from my experiences, I’ve been able to navigate my Ego and form a better connection with my Higher Self.
Of course, I’m never perfect. I’m here to be human, just like the rest of you.
Ego Is Not the Enemy
One of the most important things that I’d like to say before we get started, is that our Egos are not our enemies.
I do believe our Egos have a purpose in our life. It’s there to help keep our physical body safe, such as when we cross the street or if a wild animal is nearby.
It’s also part of us having a human experience. I don’t want to demonize the Ego because the Ego is just trying to do its job to protect us, HOWEVER, there are many times it may do us more harm than good without us realizing it.
Think of it as a helicopter parent.
You know parents try to have our best interests in us, but sometimes it can be a little overbearing.
That is why when it comes to making decisions and creating your dream life, it’s important to know which is your Higher Self talking and which one is your Ego speaking. Once you are aware of the differences, you’ll be able to ease your Ego’s concerns and let your Higher Self take the lead.
1. Calm Energy vs Reactive Energy
When you are making decisions, is it coming from a place of calmness or is it coming from a rushed and reactive place?
Because the Ego comes from a place of fear and traumas, your Ego will react to the things that trigger or intimidate it. So, let’s say you want to start a business and your first reaction is fearing what others will say about you.
That’s Ego. Ego doesn’t like that. So, it stops you from starting your business and you are stuck at a job you hate.
Let me give you an example that happened to me which I’ve talked about it before, but it has to do with my relationship.
Before I had met my soon-to-be husband, I had never had a boyfriend. I have gone on one date in my life and never associated with that guy ever again. So, people get really impressed with me that my first boyfriend is now my husband, but the reason why I knew that was because I listened to my intuition.
I remember the day when I saw my husband (he was talking to one of our coworkers. We used to work at the same job in the past), I heard something tell me “That’s your husband”.
There was no emotion behind it. I wasn’t obsessed about even being in a relationship nor have I ever thought about it. Yet for some reason, I knew he was going to be my husband. We started off as friends and eventually started dating.
Now we are getting married.
This was a message from my Higher Self.
I wasn’t desperate to be in a relationship and I can’t really say I hop around in relationships (like some people may do out of fear of being lonely) because I never had one in the first place. Doing something like this sounds more reactive.
If you are someone who is like that though, it’s possible that you may be listening to your Ego.
When it comes to the decisions you make about your life, ask yourself, “Is this coming from a place of calm or am I being reactive?”
2. Evolved Adult vs Wounded Child
Your Higher Self is like the evolved adult that pretty much knows everything about you while the Ego acts like a wounded child.
It can be tricky to follow what the Higher Self says because we like to think that we know everything when really, we don’t.
The Ego really is like a wounded child because it comes from the traumas we faced as children and the limiting beliefs that we created from those traumas. And sometimes, those traumas we experienced as children don’t seem very big or serious, but regardless, it still shapes our belief system to this day.
You may have been told that there isn’t enough money in this world by your parents, society, or friends while our Higher Self (aka, that evolved adult) knows that abundance is our birthright and we have all the unlimited abundance we could ever want.
Another reason why the Ego is also a wounded child is because from the time we are born to around the age of seven, we are walking sponges. We are taking in everything around us and storing it into our subconscious which determines how we perceive the world.
If you are interested in the science of this, I recommend the book Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza.
3. Loving vs Charged Voice
This is kinda similar to the calm vs reactive energy, but just in case you are clairaudient like I am, you may hear your information.
If the voice sounds loving and encourages you to go after things (even if it seems intimidating), that is most likely your Higher Self. If it comes from a charged tone, such as anger, resentment, fear, or doubt, then that is most likely your Ego.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The Higher Self can be really stern with you, but it’s not out of anger. It sounds more like “Hey, you need to do this now” kind of tone.
Pay attention to what you hear. Is the tone of voice loving and giving you clarity?
Or is it angry, upset, or giving you a hard time?
4. Focuses on Internal vs External
Our Higher Self focuses more on the internal such as emotions, our spirit, what’s most authentic to us, our inner being while the Ego is more concerned with the external such as material things, circumstances, other people, and anything else in this 3D reality.
The Ego focuses too much on your external reality while the Higher Self knows that deep within, you are capable of anything you desire and that what you want is already yours.
Your Ego is the human part of you and doesn’t comprehend that your intentions and desires are really powerful. The Higher Self knows this all too well.
5. Encourages Change vs Avoids Change
The Higher Self firmly encourages change and the Ego avoids change like the plague.
The Higher Self understands that we are multi-dimensional and expansive beings and the Ego (again, the Ego focuses too much on the external and comes from a place of fear) hates change. It’s just because the Ego wants to stay where it is familiar.
If you are too afraid to make a change, chances are, it’s Ego based.
If it scares you, it’s probably time to face it.
6. Honors Your Human Design vs Not Honoring It
If you aren’t aware of what Human Design is, it’s a system that teaches you how to live your most authentic and happiest self by using a chart that shows your innate gifts and how to best make decisions in your life.
Your Higher Self honors your Human Design chart. Your Ego doesn’t really get any of this, therefore it doesn’t honor it.
Once you discover what your Human Design is, remember how you make decisions and follow what your Human Design says.