As we get deeper and further along on our spiritual path, our ego has no choice but to become sneakier in the ways it takes form, especially if we have a tenacious ego.

The first time I realized how incredibly strong my ego is was the first time I tried psychedelic mushrooms. I laugh now when I think about how sneaky my ego tried to be that day. It was me and a couple of friends who decided to eat some mushrooms on the beach. Within the hour they were both feeling the effects but I felt nothing. If you’ve ever done psychedelic mushrooms as spiritual practice, you know that eventually your ego is essentially thrown up and all you’re left with is the eyes of love; your ego is completely stripped away from your being.

What I now know is that my ego fought the mushrooms with all its might, so much so that it tried to convince me that the reason I wasn’t feeling the effects was because I was “called to hold the space” for the ones who were. Of course to my ego, being called to hold the space meant I was more “spiritual” than my friends, which my ego clinged onto for dear life, until it eventually left my body. My ego revealed its true colours to my higher self that day.

However, you don’t have to do psychedelics to find out how sly your ego can be. There are things you can look out for on your journey to forming a harmonious relationship with your ego.

If you’re reading this article then chances are you have learned that love is power, positive thinking yields positive results, and that fear is an illusion. You have probably learned 101 ways to keep your ego in check, how to raise your vibration, the secret to opening your third eye, etcetera…etcetera. As we acquire this knowledge, this spiritual knowledge if you will, we find that it actually works and our eyes become wide open. We become acutely aware. Aware of the people who don’t live the “spiritual” way, the people who are drowning in sorrow, the people who play the victim, the people who are afraid, the people who don’t understand “the secret”-the destruction of our planet, the greed, the lies, the mistreatment of animals, the shady politicians.

Waking up is an important time on our journey, but it can also be a time when the spiritual ego emerges.

The spiritual ego needs to be right and defend the honour of what it believes. When people insult the path you’re on, the spiritual ego speaks up. The spiritual ego cannot allow others to experience their own journeys and always has to respond. It “listens” to someone’s point and responds, “You’re not wrong, but here is a better point.” It loves to tell people what they should and shouldn’t do to “fix their problems” without even being asked. People who agree are the spiritual ego’s friends and people who do not are of “lower vibration.” It can be around people who “get it” but judges the people who don’t. It judges those who are not on the same path and feels the need to teach people “the way.” The spiritual ego believes if people don’t eat the way they do, or meditate like they do, or spend their time the way they do, then those people are lacking. It also loves to compare its “level” of spirituality to other “spiritual” people. The spiritual ego falls in the same category as religious righteousness or new age righteousness or any type of righteousness…period.

It is not to say that people who inspire people to live their best lives are doing wrong. No this is not the case; we are living in a world where people are asleep to their best potential because of many things-fear, lack of self -love, lack of awareness, the food we eat, the fluoride in our water, our disconnect to Mother Nature. However, it is not our job to judge the paths of others or come up with the path that we think is best for someone else.

As we awaken and our eyes become wide, it can be challenging and emotional to see the people whom we love unhappy, especially because now we know that love is power. That if they just learned to love themselves that they could be happy, strong, powerful, and live out their lives to their fullest potential. That if they could just stop being afraid and take risks, all of their dreams could come true. I can personally say that this part has been the hardest part of my journey and is probably what birthed my spiritual ego. I had finally found the key to happiness but nobody was listening and everyone continued to live unhappily. It was frustrating to witness so I preached and preached “the way” until I realized that it wasn’t working.

As I am sure you are aware, there are only two true emotions; love and fear. The stress and emotions we feel when we believe our family or friends aren’t living their lives to their best potential stems from fear. Our ego lives in a place of fear so it preaches and lectures our family out of fear that they won’t find “the way,” unless we personally show them. By doing this, we are telling the universe that we do not trust the divine plan it has for those we love.

I get it. We want to help. But there is a tricky line between helping others and leading the life of a “spiritual ego.”

The most monumental thing we can do for those we love is to love them unconditionally. Love, love, and love some more. Forget about people’s “flaws” and focus on their beauty. Let them be who they are and trust in their journey. Support who they are. Accept who they are. Love exactly who they are. Whatever arises, love that. Lead a life of love and lead the way with your light. Focus on your light and yours alone and soon you will see the people you love mirror that light. Live your best life and lead by example. Love is contagious and people will catch it in their own time. Everyone’s path is unique to their story, completely personal, and out of your control. If you want to inspire and help others, do so when they ask or are listening.

As you continue to lead your life choosing love, your ego will feel left behind, no longer needed, and afraid. Instead of trying to ignore it by performing spiritual kung foo moves on it, empathize with it. For the majority of your life, the ego has been in charge and has been feeling pretty good about leading your life, but now you are replacing its role with love. Sympathize with your ego and say the words, “I’m sorry” when it expresses its fears and pain.

For shits and giggles, commend your spiritual ego on its clever and sneaky disguising skills ;)

This article was inspired by the teachings of Matt Kahn. If you recognize the spiritual ego in yourself, click here watch the teaching by Matt for further support.

Written by  Guest Writer Brittany Sinkler from Educate Inspire Change