One of the most beautiful and magical encounters we can have as human beings is experiencing our true nature — what I call the soul. However, connecting with our soul can be a challenge when we’re distracted by our thoughts, emotions, minds and other egoic influences. And when we feel the desire to connect with something deeper and more meaningful, we often look outside to find that connection — all the while, our soul has been patiently waiting for us to journey inside.
This is not a spiritual philosophy I’ve learned from a teacher or read in a book — it’s my personal experience.
A few years ago when I began my meditation practice, I discovered a guided meditation that instructed the meditator to avoid monkey mind by silently saying, “I have thoughts, but I am not my thoughts, I am an eternal soul.” For some reason, those words resonated deeply. I had never really thought about the fact that I was not my thoughts — what a profound idea!
And when I began to practice that line during meditation, I found myself effortlessly becoming the observer of my thoughts and I was able to separate myself from the chatter. That was the beginning of my “spiritual awakening” — the first introduction to my soul.
Since that initial moment of awakening, I have developed a loving relationship with my soul through a variety of spiritual practices. Now that I’m connected with that sacred place inside, I find it so much easier to:
• Love myself and others
• Be content
• Not let thoughts and emotions control my interactions with the outside world
• See my triggers as teachers
• And so many other things
Now, let me say, I haven’t always been a “hippy dippy” spiritual guy. Prior to my awakening experience, I was a successful marketing professional with 20+ years of business experience, a college professor, and a published author. However, I silently struggled. I struggled with diagnosed PTSD related to the traumatic loss of my dad and the unexpected passing of one of my best college friends. I dealt with chronic sadness. I hated the person I saw in the mirror. And I found an escape from all of these things through unhealthy vices.
Frankly, it felt like everything was spinning out of control. However, my journey inside through meditation changed everything. It allowed me to rediscover my essence and uncover a very special gift — the ability to use energy to heal myself and others. In fact, after a few months of meditation and self-healing, I found myself cured the aforementioned struggles.
With all of that being said, I wouldn’t want to mislead you into believing that I’ve killed off my ego. That couldn’t be further from the truth. My ego is still alive and well. I still have thoughts and emotions that do not align with what I know to be my truth. But now, instead of getting stuck, I’m able to sit in the seat of the observer and know that I am neither my thoughts nor emotions. I am an eternal soul. And this allows me to live a mindful life full of purpose and love.
Living a more mindful and spiritual life not directed by the ego or mind comes from a committed practice of meditation. Meditation can be many things. Some people meditate through yoga, through binaural beats, guided journeys, etc. These are all powerful methods of journeying inside. And once you’ve connected with your soul — or have awakened — you can never unawaken.
And on the occasions when you find yourself living from the ego (which most of us still do at times), you’re keenly aware that you are not the ego — you are the one observing it. And in that moment of recognition, you return to conscious living.
