 Understanding intuition vs ego. How to know the guidance from within. One question I often get asked by my students when I teach yoga philosophy is how can we tell if the inner guidance we receive is intuitive or from the ego. I'm sure most of us have received intuitive nudges at times, actually we almost always do I believe. And we also experience ego driven perception, but how do we recognise the two? The truth is that it is indeed quite difficult, at least in the beginning. Both are very convincing and feel like the right thing to do at the time. But with patience and practicing meditation, stillness and silence, we can tune into our intuition more and feel more connected with it. Therefore once we realise its vibration, we know. Let's look at some key differences between ego vs intuitive guidance. TIMINGIntuition is often the first or initial inner response or impression we get of a person or a situation. It is the first nudge we receive when making a difficult decision or trying to make sense of something. It's like an instant knowledge that comes to us, most of the time felt in our gut. Ego is what follows. Ego is based on fear and individual safety, doing something to remain comfortable and not wanting to recognise anything beyond it. Often intuition is very quick but also profound. Ego keeps lingering and it feels almost like an alarm. Ego comes after the initial intuitive guidance because it does not recognise anything higher than itself, so it quickly comes in to defend itself.  ANALYSING VS TRUSTSometimes intuition simply doesn't make sense. And it's not meant to because it comes from our higher self/the soul and not from our mental faculties. This is where the confusion starts and when we can make fear based decisions. We receive a gut feel that something feels or doesn't feel right, but it usually lasts only for a few seconds. Because the ego is so quick to act, it starts to interfere. Then the intellect comes in and starts to analyse the situation to try and make sense of it based on previous experiences. But intuition is not something we can analyse, it is an inner knowing and the moment it comes, we feel certain it is true. Only when the mind gets involved, we lose this awareness. So staying present and open is very important. STAY THE SAME VS MAKING A CHANGEIntuition always guides us towards the best possible situation for our soul's evolution and growth. Even if it means taking a "risk", although this is perceived as a risk only by the mind because it is based on fear/ego. So the ego wants to us remain the same, comfortable, defensive, stuck in a pattern because it doesn't like or feel comfortable with change. Only our higher self wants the best for the journey, because it recognises no fear or any other mental based constructs or conditioning. Intuition knows, ego runs away from. When we intuitively receive guidance to make big decisions of transformation, which ask us to change some things about how we live or perceive the world, we somehow surrender and trust the unknown. And we feel certain that it will work out, even if we don't have it all figured out yet. This is intuition. The consistency of these changes depends on how well we use our will-power and not let ego interfere because it will and it will try to stop us. And at some point we will talk ourselves out of it and make sense that it is better to remain in the same situation, just so that we don't have to effort all these new aspects.  IMPULSE REACTION VS TRUE KNOWLEDGEOften when we get an intuitive guidance, we instantly trust it. There is no rush to do anything, it doesn't alarm us. It just feels right. There is an inner knowing to the realisation. Ego driven behaviour and decisions are usually quite impulsive and we tend to react quickly. We want to rush into it because there is an underlying aspect of fear. Even the body will start to feel this fear by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, in the same way that we would if we were feeling in danger or defensive. In some cases, intuition can also give us physical clues if for example we are around somebody who can cause us harm (verbally, physically or through their intention). Or maybe that something doesn't feel right if we say yes to an offer. But there is still a sense of mental clarity. It's just that the feeling is slightly unsteady. The best way to improve our intuitive connection is to practice daily stillness in silence. Only when the mind is clear, we can access this incredible inner wisdom within.
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 We can always choose to be happy and feel good. Both of these can take some effort but if we pay attention to our daily habits and the way we think, we can identify what helps us to feel at our best and what drains our energy. Each one of us has positive and negative energy, this is just the balance of life. But we can choose which we want to nurture more, therefore living in positive energy is also a choice. When we start to focus on solutions, rather than problems; adjust the way we perceive the world; get to know ourselves and be authentic; focusing on our wellbeing and start listening to our intuition, then we can shift our energy also. Here are 13 practical ways to boost positive energy in your life: 1.PRANAYAMA In yoga philosophy, we learn about prana. This is the vital essence, the life force in the subtle body that gives vitality to our physical existence. The breath is the driver of the prana, so the more we focus on correct breathing, the more we expand the prana. We can practice counting breathing, inhalation for 4, exhalation for 6-8. Pranayama is the control and expansion of prana, therefore we can increase the flow of prana through these breathing exercises. Some really powerful ones are Kapalabhati/the fire breath, Bhastrika/bellows breath, Nadi Shodhana/alternate nostril breathing. 2.TIME IN NATURE/OUTDOORS The best source of prana and pure energy is (in my opinion) found in nature. The fresh air, the warmth of the sun, a refreshing dip in the sea, a grounding barefoot walk on the grass, even the touch of rain drops on our skin. All of this is nature in its purest form. The more time we can spend outdoors, the more joyful we become because eventually we align ourselves with all the good energy nature has to give. Sometimes all we need is a breath of fresh air to heal our wounds and bring clarity to our overthinking mind. 3.HOBBIES This is one of my favourite ways to zone out and chill. Hobbies are so important because they are a beautiful way to connect with our creativity, focus the mind and be present in the moment. When we do what we love not as a career, but as something purely for the joy of it, this instantly boosts our energy and fills us with positive, vibrant energy. Hobbies are also a good indication on what we are good at/our unique talents, skills and abilities and the more we focus on these, the clearer we will become with our soul mission on this earth.  4.WHOLESOME/SATTVIC FOOD I definitely had to include this because food can be medicine for our physical existence. Food that comes directly from the nature (usually vegetarian) also has prana and what we eat, impacts not only our physical wellbeing but also mental and emotional wellness. We can choose to focus on our eating habits and what we consume. We can try as much as we can to take organic food and cook our own meals. The cooking process itself is part of the whole digestive process. The way we treat the food when we cook, may affect the way we digest it. So choose wholesome foods, cook with love and nurture yourself through the gifts of nature. 5.MEDITATION PRACTICES To keep positive energy, we need a focused, steady and clear mind. Meditation is the practice of intense, uninterrupted focus on an object. The more steady the mind becomes, the stronger it is. This can help us in changing our thought patterns, develop patience, stillness and making better decisions. Meditation doesn't always have to be done in a seated position with the eyes closed, although this would help. It can also be walking meditation, when you focus on each step you take, slowly and with concentration. It can also be eating meditation, where all senses are engaged only with the food. It can also be gazing at an external object, trying not to blink, which is called Trataka. As long as there is complete focus of the mind on and ideally steadiness of the body, this mean we are focused in the present moment. Being in this awareness is powerful and can create a lot of positive changes in our life. 6.KEEP HYDRATED Keeping hydrated is a much needed daily habit to ensure proper functioning of our body and mind. Water itself is a source of prana (natural water) and it helps to regulate body temperature and provide lubrication in the body, amongst many other important benefits. We can start the day with a glass of water to hydrate the body and bring clarity to the mind and throughout the day, continue to keep the body and mind hydrated to keep overall wellness and energy levels. 7.HAVE A SHOWER OR BATH Believe it or not, simply by taking a shower we can shift our energy levels. The element of water represents fluidity and movement which helps to energise the body and mind. It is also cleansing, so anytime the mind is overcrowded with thoughts, or the body feels stagnant, take a shower (room temperature water) and enjoy the sensation of water on your skin. 8.KARMA YOGA/GIVING SELFLESSLY Karma yoga is the path of selfless action, meaning we do for the sakes of being of service and not to gain anything out of it for ourselves. This can be in the form of volunteering at a homeless shelter or an animal shelter or anywhere else where help is needed for the greater good; donating some clothes or things to a local donations shop; making a delicious meal for somebody or even giving a small gift to somebody. All of these help us to put the ego aside and contribute to the joy of others, which is so important and humbling. And when we open our heart to do so, it becomes full of love and pure energy.  9.GRATITUDE If there is one thing I suggest to everyone to do is daily gratitude. I know we hear about it everywhere, but there is really not enough thank you's we can say everyday. If we start living in gratitude it means that we are living from a place of abundance and fullness, not lack. We are open to all the wonderful aspects of life and even the smallest, simplest thing is something to be grateful for. Live in gratitude and it will transform your whole attitude. 10.PHYSICAL EXERCISE Daily movement is so important and much needed. Our bodies are made to move and be active in this life. Not only it keeps us strong, flexible and healthy in the body but also in the mind. Whether you enjoy the gym, running, skipping, Pilates etc or simply going for a walk outdoors, take the time to move a little bit everyday. This will release all those happy, feel good chemicals in the brain, increase sweat (which is needed to remove toxins from the body), helps with proper digestion and boosts mental functioning too. This is definitely all the good energy we need. 11.SPENDING TIME AROUND ANIMALS Our furry friends are full of joy and love. One of the ways we can learn to activate Anahata (the heart chakra) and develop feelings of acceptance and joy is by spending time with animals. They are simple in their ways and non-judgemental. An animal doesn't care if we are rich or poor, what we look like or what we do for a living. All they know is how we act around them and to give us love. If you don't have pets, volunteering at an animal shelter is a great way to do some karma yoga and to be around animals. Even visiting a pet shop is enough to come in contact with them and spend some time around animals.  12.SET THE MOOD IN YOUR HOME Our home space is perhaps one of the most important places in our life. The way we maintain our home reflects our inner state. Our homes should ideally be a safe place for us to feel cozy, calm and joyful. Focusing on de-cluttering the space and keeping everything simple, tidy and clean, gives us the space to have mental clarity. Burning incense stick, beautiful scented candles or palo santo/sage can also provide a relaxing and cleansing experience overall. Especially the latter two, which have been used for hundreds of years by healers to remove any negative energy and promote more peace. 13.MASSAGE Getting a full body massage or doing a self-massage is a great way to loosen toxins from the body and mind. It also helps us to relax, calm the mind and nourish the skin. In Ayurveda, this is a daily habit for maintaining wellness which is called Self-Abhyanga. It can be done in the morning, for 10 minutes or so by doing an application of warm oil on the body and also application of oil (not heated) on the head and face. Of course if there is the chance to get a monthly massage this is a beautiful way to treat ourselves and also improve self-esteem by gifting ourselves with a pampering experience. 14.SOCIAL CONNECTION Our nature as human beings is social connection. We are here to interact with one another, to connect and help one another evolve in some way. Choose wisely who you spend your energy and time with. Even just by having a short conversation with a loved one, a colleague, a mentor or even a stranger can boost our energy levels by creating a sense of connection and belonging. Not all people are a joy to be around, but if we can learn to focus on being present, grateful for every connection and recognise the ones that create a positive experience in our life, we can choose to devote our time on these. Spending time alone is also important, but it is equally as important to be involved and present in the world, to connect and be open to share life with others.  How to avoid turning confidence into arrogance. Learn how to develop self-belief in humbleness. There is a very clear line between self-confidence and arrogance. One is associated with believing in ourselves, and the other is seeing ourselves above everything/everyone else. Both require the use of ego, but self-confidence stems from knowing our worth and embracing our unique talents and abilities, regardless of what challenges we may face. Arrogance however is a state that creates comparison and a delusional state of superiority. When we feel worthless or lack self-esteem and decide to make a change, we must be mindful not to fall in the loop of egotistical behaviours. It can be difficult to do so, because often this change requires us to shift our perception of not feeling that we are good enough to the realisation that we are in fact worth of anything we want to manifest and create. In the process of doing so, we need to be aware of the ways we create this paradigm shift, how far we go with it and how we use it in the world. Self-confidence comes from the heart. We might fall into a place of low self-esteem and disconnection to our abilities, but when we decide to look within and see just how many wonderful qualities we have, then we can learn to believe in ourselves. This should always come from a place of humbleness, learning to recognise our uniqueness with truthfulness and gratitude. Arrogance comes from fear in my opinion. When we cross the line of feeling that we are worthy, and we start to fight against the current of life, to think that we are better than others, then we are creating an unpleasant experience not only for ourselves but for everybody else. Arrogance, although it may seem useful because it comes with high levels of self-confidence, it is actually the state that may create a self-sabotaging experience. Instead of allowing and being open, we push, we force and struggle. Arrogance brings no good to anybody.  When we don't achieve or receive what we want, arrogance can turn into destructiveness. When the ego is threatened, then it starts to defend itself, it can seek revenge, display anger, manipulation, sorrow, shame, power tripping behaviours etc. Self-belief however is the ability to believe in one self and persevere even when challenges arise. Self-confidence focuses on knowledge of ourselves; arrogance is a mix of this knowledge and heightened ego as well as ignorance of the rest. Energetically, from a chakras perspective, both are the result of Manipura, the solar plexus chakra. Represented by the fire element and the sense of sight, Manipura gives us this burning desire to have a vision for creating something in the world through what we do. This fire is also the fuel that sparks self-belief, to feel determined and motivated. Once we reach these qualities, we can rise higher into Anahata, the heart chakra located above Manipura and use this power we have discovered in a compassionate and meaningful way. But if we remain in the Solar plexus energy without opening our heart to experience not only self-belief but also to feel love, then we end up burning ourselves and those around us. Confidence gives us the drive to take action and trust ourselves in doing so; arrogance drives us to prove ourselves which again is a product of fear with a subconscious underlying state of low self-esteem. Therefore feelings of superiority rise due to a subconscious state of desperation and the need to mask this.  The yoga philosophy teaches us that when success comes, we must also be prepared for failure to follow. This is the balance of this physical universe. We rise and we fall. We feel happiness, then we will experience suffering. We see the light and then we are clouded by the dark. Until we find the balance of being in the middle ground, in a state of flow, where we surrender to each experience by being present and content, we will continue to yoyo between these two opposing dualities.
We need to realise that every opportunity we are given in life is a gift of Divine inspiration; and that our talents and abilities are gifted for a purpose to serve for the greater good of others, and not for selfish reasons. Then humbleness is experienced. Self-confidence gives us the drive to believe in ourselves and create the life we want to live. Arrogance although can create abundance and success, it makes life more difficult and self-centred. Remember that this life is an experience that we share with others, that each one of us has a soul mission to serve for the greater good of the world. This means we are all good enough and all we need to do is know ourselves and use these to contribute to the world.  How to make the most of the New Moon energy with 3 important questions to ask yourself. New moons always bring an opportunity for something new to enter our life. We are the creators of our experiences and when we co-create with Divine infinite source, we are in alignment and everything can come to creation in its own time. For this to happen, we need to know ourselves. To understand that within each one of us, at our core, this light of energy and endless vibration is always there. This is why meditation is a strong practice to understand this, because it requires us to work with the mind and eventually quieten it, realising we, as this essence are the witness of the mind but not the mind itself. To start something new is not always easy, and I say this often, but life is not meant to be easy. It is karma, a form of action we are constantly involved with in the physical action of being and doing. Self-development is in my opinion the most important aspect of our existence, to continue to evolve and grow so that we can live joyfully and to our full potential.  Here are some important questions to ask yourself which when done with focus, can lead to great insights. Contemplating on these can lead to profound realisations. Who are you when nobody is watching?In this life we wear many different masks. Every encounter we have, brings out a different side to our endlessly changing persona. At work we wear a mask, in our social friendships we wear a different one/behave a little different, in our romantic relationship again we wear another mask. This does not mean we are fake, the character is always there but each situation prompts us to put out different qualities. For example, at work we might be more strict and strategic, but with our friends we might be more relaxed and open. And in our romantic relationship, we might be more affectionate and nurturing and so on; in some situations we might need to be brave and strong, and in others more gentle and soft. But one question I always ask myself and also share with my students "Who are you when nobody is watching?". This reveals a lot about our character. What kind of behaviours and activities do you engage in when alone? What kind of thoughts do you have? How do you act in your own company? Because in this instance, ego has nothing to prove, nobody to impress. This is the root of our physical life character. From here, we can understand a lot and see what we need to change if it doesn't serve us for our highest good. What activities/work makes you feel relaxed, present and joyful?The most important reason (in my opinion) that hobbies are so useful is that they help us understand what we truly enjoy doing. Usually, what we are drawn to for a hobby, is what brings out the unique skills and abilities we have been given in this physical life. They bring out this inner sparkle of joy and keep us in the present moment. With hobbies, there is no financial pressure, no hustling or climbing up the career ladder, no goal to achieve. We do them because they feel good and we want to do so. In my opinion, these are a great indication for our life mission and soul purpose in this world. Try to look as far back as you can, even in your childhood days and see what did you enjoy doing then? For example, as far back as I can remember I loved writing. I was 7 years old when I wrote my first book, a little book of positive sayings which I gifted my mum for her birthday. I didn't know then where inspiration for such wise words came from because I was only a child, but later on I understood this was part of my Divine essence. It was the language of my soul. So look back and again start from the root. Start from the moments when life did not feel like a race course that you needed to battle through or to accomplish anything. And from there, work your way to where you are now.  If from today you were told you can do one work only to serve the world with and it would bring you abundance, what would it be? I believe that we can serve our soul's mission in many different ways. There is not just one career path we take, there are plenty of tools and options available to us. For example, a mission could be to bring others joy. This can be done by being a healer, or a comedian, or a parent etc. The career we choose is just a way to serve the mission, but it is not the only way. We can always reinvent ourselves. But setting aside all the pressures of life that come with work (eg financial or status) what would you be doing for the rest of your life if you were given this option? This will help you understand what you love doing which is usually (not always) but usually what we would be good at and very much related to the Divine infinite source inspiration we receive. Working on ourselves is a never ending journey, because our physical existence is constantly changing. So we need to put in the work to realise how we can best navigate this game of life. For this new moon's opportunities to be seen and felt, it's important (in my opinion) to go within, reflect and really understand what we want to attract.
 Welcome the new month feeling good, focused and strong. March has arrived with plenty of good energy and productivity. Every month has its own vibe and if we are in tune with nature, we can feel inspired to follow its natural cycles which helps us to flow with the rhythm of life. The full moon of this month is in Virgo, the sign of productivity, strategy and structure. This means that we can all take the opportunity to focus on taking action and making good things happen. The special aspect about the Virgo energy is that structure is key. And from the yoga philosophy, we also learn that we must be consistent in our practice, whatever this may be. Here are some ways to make the most of this month. MAKE YOUR STRATEGY This month is more about setting a clear strategy to take action towards living our life authentically. It is not so much about dreaming of this, and being creative but more about using our logic to how we can bring anything into manifestation. The Universe and Divine source will always support us, but we must do the work. Being open to receive is not about doing nothing and "trusting what is meant for me will come". We need to work together with the universal source, therefore we need to be active wit it, and we will know it is the right aspect for us because things will start falling into place. To set out a strategy, it might help to write down 3- 5 things that you can do daily to help you focus on what you are inspired to make happen. A simple example can be developing a healthier sleeping routine. So the strategy/five steps could be having dinner earlier, no phone or tech devices one hour before sleep, having a calming cup of tea an hour before bed, reading your book for 30 minutes, mantra or meditation right before sleep. This is just an example so you get an idea of the strategy and 5 steps process. But it can be anything that you want to manifest, such as a new job, healthier eating, learning a new skill, etc and following the same procedure.  FOCUS-DEVELOP MENTAL STRENGTH
For making something happen, it requires our devoted attention. This means that we need to focus on this aspect. The strategy will not do anything if we are not focusing on whatever it is that we want to create. What helps is to acknowledge your intention, why do you want to bring this aspect into your life. This "why" is the internal fire that keeps burning strong and gives us determination. Teach your mind to be strong and focused by practicing dharana/dhyana daily. Deep concentration practices (dharana) lead to meditation (dhyana) so this month, introduce a time everyday when for a specific period of time (whatever is suitable) you sit down in a quiet space and focus on an object. The object of your focus can be your intention, or an affirmation or it can be any random object. Dharana helps us to make our mind strong and sharp and to develop will power. Daily practice of this will soon turn into a habit and it will naturally become part of your daily routine. BE PRODUCTIVE IN YOUR OWN WAY Finally learn to work smart and efficiently. Although there are many strategies available about how to work smarter, I think it's important to acknowledge (in my opinion at least) that this is different for everybody. Our temperaments/personalities and Ayurvedic dosha constitutions all influence how we best make use of our time and our productivity levels. So find what helps you to be productive and break away from patterns of procrastination. And whatever it is that you want to bring into manifestation, learn to enjoy the process and trust in Divine time/the Universe, whatever it is for you. Because it may take time and a lot of effort, but if we enjoy what we are doing, focus on our intention and trust that we are Divinely supported, then we put out a frequency of openness and certainty, and not of desperation and fear. |
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