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What Is The Life Purpose Of The Human Ego?
The life purpose of the human ego is to assist you, the human, to experience life from an individual state of consciousness. According to Deepak Chopra, the ego allows us to experience life through singularity, to be focused on the self, the "I" within us (Chopra, 2019).
In today's podcast episode, "The Life Purpose Of Human Ego," we talk about the significance of the human ego in fulfilling our life's purpose and how the ego, when healthy, serves us to take action on our purpose. When we acknowledge and embrace both our ego and shadow, we gain valuable insights into our desires and motivations, ultimately paving the way for self-awareness, growth, and alignment with our deepest desires.
Listen to the podcast episode "The Life Purpose Of Human Ego" here 👇:
Understanding Ego And Shadow's Impact On Your Life's Purpose
The ego and the shadow self are both concepts from psychology and spiritual philosophy, but they represent different aspects of the human psyche:
According to the works of psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, the ego is the conscious part of the mind that balances the id and superego. The ego shapes our sense of self, personal identity, thoughts, beliefs, and desires. The ego seeks validation and fulfillment through accomplishments, recognition, and social status.
A key underlying aspect of the ego is its consideration of how to behave (Mcleod, 2024).
Psychologist and pioneer of the shadow-self concept, Carl Jung, describes the shadow-self as the unconscious or repressed aspects of ourselves and that the shadow-self is often formed in childhood through experiences of shame or trauma and can manifest in destructive behaviors or patterns if left unacknowledged.
According to Orion Philosophy, "the shadow is caused by the resistance that comes from the differences in the life our ego consciously has us live to fit into the world around us and the behavior our id draws us towards" (Weaver, 2022).
Put simply, think of the shadow as a part of the ego that it doesn't want to acknowledge.
Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is. - Carl Jung
While the ego deals with our conscious identity and perceptions, the shadow-self resides in the unconscious and contains elements of ourselves that we may not readily recognize or accept. Integrating the shadow self involves acknowledging and accepting these suppressed aspects of our personality, which can lead to greater self-awareness, personal growth, and wholeness.
Are you experiencing dissatisfaction in any of the following categories of your life: health, wealth, love, or happiness?
If yes, why?
Are you not in alignment with what you truly want?
What you truly want and what you're currently experiencing in your life might be the result of an inner psychological conflict between your ego and your shadow.
When there's a conflict between your ego and shadow, that can negatively impact your sense of self-worth and whether or not you fulfill you're special purpose.
In a blog post titled, "Discover The 6 Human Needs," we all have basic human needs that incentivize us to live our best lives ((Tony, 2024). However, when we don't have our human needs met, we may become emotionally unstable and engage in destructive behaviors to attempt to satisfy those unmet needs.
The ego and the shadow have a big impact on your sense of purpose and when you don't have a balanced state of being, can negatively affect the way you express your purpose in life.
The Ego's Influence On Your Life Purpose
The ego plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us. When the ego is healthy, we're likely to have a strong sense of self-worth and purpose, but when unhealthy, the ego can distort our perceptions of reality.
According to Forrest, the ego can serve a higher purpose when it is refined and aligned with the Universe because the ego can focus its energy on serving a higher power instead of serving itself (Forrest, 2011).
Therefore, nurturing a healthy ego has a significant influence on your life's purpose and your ability to stay focused on serving others. Neglecting the ego, however, can lead to imbalance and hinder your ability to manifest your purpose in the physical world.
Think about it: if you did not have a strong sense of self and didn't feel worthy to have a BIG purpose, you'd likely settle for doing work that's unfulfilling for you or doesn't meet your human needs.
A healthy ego wants you to express yourself, but it's your perception of yourself that may stop you from being the BIG ONE you desire to be.
The ego has a purpose in our lives: it shapes our identities and drives our ambitions.
Check out our "Getting Started" series to help you find, live, and unleash YOUR life purpose.
The Shadows' Influence On Your Life Purpose
The shadow self, as described by Carl Jung, describes the shadow as the unacknowledged or repressed aspects of our psyche we repress so that we can adapt to family and society.
Stout writes that the shadow is "everything about ourselves that we have lost, cut off, ignored, hidden, denied, and run from throughout life" (Stout, 2016).
Unfulfilled desires or unresolved traumas are constantly getting our attention and it is important to confront and address them to move forward in our journey.
There are things about you that you've suppressed out of fear and what you've suppressed may express itself in unhealthy ways until you acknowledge it.
Acknowledging your shadow self requires courage and vulnerability because it requires you to confront aspects of yourself that may make you emotionally uncomfortable. However, by acknowledging your shadow, you allow personal growth and inner healing to happen.
To truly thrive with your life's purpose, you must step into your BIGNESS. This means confronting your shadows, owning your desires, and pursuing your purpose with unwavering determination. Despite external criticism or self-doubt, you must have a strong sense of self, be grounded in your truth, and prioritize self-acceptance over external validation. Only then will you be able to live up to your true potential and create a meaningful impact with your purpose.
Integrating Ego And Shadow To Realize Your Life's Purpose
The ego and the shadow-self aren't intentionally trying to stop you from living your life's purpose, it's simply a matter of acknowledging and integrating these aspects of yourself so that you can realize the BIGNESS of your purpose.
Acknowledging and accepting what we've repressed frees up mental and emotional baggage so that we can integrate that shadow aspect of ourselves and recalibrate our psyche to be more in alignment with the truth of who we truly are (Spiritual Mate, 2023).
A balanced ego allows you to assert your identity, pursue your goals, and contribute positively to the world around you.
Both ego and shadow, when in balance with one another, can help you become the BIG ONE you know you were destined to be.
Playing BIG For Your Life Purpose
The life purpose of the ego lies in harmonizing its relationship with the shadow self. By embracing both aspects of your psyche, you embark on a journey toward self-realization and authenticity. This integration allows you to harness your BIGNESS and fulfill your purpose in life.
Working on your shadow aspects involves acknowledging and integrating the parts of yourself you've repressed. Whether it's traits you judge in yourself or aspects others have criticized you for, embracing your shadow self is essential for balance and growth.
Heal your ego if it's wounded and acknowledge your shadow. The shadow will support the ego in getting what you want and the ego, being healthy and healed, will feel worthy and enough to have what it truly wants.
By integrating the ego and the shadow in a balanced manner, you'll tap into a reservoir of power and wisdom that positively impacts your self-awareness and potential.
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Chopra, Deepak. “Purpose of Ego.” Deepak Chopra, 20 May 2019, https://www.deepakchopra.com/articles/purpose-of-ego/.
“Discover The 6 Human Needs.” Edited by Team Tony, Tonyrobbins.Com, 15 Jan. 2024, https://www.tonyrobbins.com/mind-meaning/do-you-need-to-feel-significant/.
Forrest, Lynne. “True Purpose Of Ego.” Lynne Forrest - Transforming Victim Consciousness, 1 Sept. 2011, https://www.lynneforrest.com/body-prayer-daily-practice/2007/12/true-purpose-of-ego/.
“How To Integrate Your Shadow Self: The Complete Guide.” Edited by Spiritual Primate, SpiritualPrimate, 21 Aug. 2023, https://spiritualprimate.com/how-to-integrate-your-shadow-self-the-complete-guide/.
Mcleod, Saul. “Freud’s Theory Of Personality: Id, Ego, And Superego.” Simply Psychology, 25 Jan. 2024, https://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html.
Stout, Carder. “Shadow and Soul.” Alanis Morissette, Alanis Morissette, 15 Jan. 2016, https://alanis.com/news/shadow-and-soul.
Weaver, Tobias. “Embracing The Shadow - Carl Jung.” Orion Philosophy, Orion Philosophy, 29 Nov. 2022, https://www.orionphilosophy.com/stoic-blog/the-shadow-carl-jung.
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