I am often asked the question, “How do I know if I’m making a decision for ego purposes vs. if I am making the decision with the Holy Spirit?”
My answer: “You don’t have to worry about figuring it out.” Here’s why.
As long as you are willing to give EVERYTHING you are inclined to do to the Holy Spirit, you can be certain that any ego that is there will gently fall away when you are ready to let it go. We can’t get this wrong! Your willingness doesn’t even need to be wholly authentic, because “the Holy Spirit will respond fully to your slightest invitation” (T-5.VII.6).
It is an ego trap to think that we have to analyze our way through a decision. We can get easily lost in thought and doubt which can prevent us from making any decision at all, and this noisy thought can prevent us further from hearing the Holy Spirit.
Here’s an example. When I first entered the realm of blogging and coaching several years ago, I had big ideas of what it might look like. I felt guided to do the work that was embarking on, and yet I was certain that ego was still there as well, as I know how sneaky it can be. Instead of getting caught in “what was ego” and “what was Spirit,” I made it a regular practice to give my ideas of what I was doing and who I might help to the Holy Spirit.
My regular practice is to go through and name my “laundry list” of attachments, desires, beliefs, etc., and one by one, toss each thing into the Holy Spirit’s hands. Career stuff is no exception. Through constantly giving the work that I do to the Holy Spirit, something has shifted in me. I no longer have a “drive to achieve.” It has transformed into something a bit different. Now I’m utterly compelled to do the work that I’m doing, almost as if I’m being carried. I can’t keep it in. And thoughts about “what might come of this” don’t really enter my mind anymore. Sharing, teaching, and learning are just things that I have to do. Could there still be ego there? Maybe. But I don’t worry about it because I give everything I do to the Holy Spirit to be used on behalf of awakening.
The Holy Spirit will use ANYTHING we’ve made on behalf of our awakening, if we are willing to give it to the Holy Spirit for reinterpretation. This includes our jobs, our relationships, our bodies, our desires, and our dreams.
“You need be neither careful nor careless; you need merely cast your cares upon Him because He careth for you.” – ACIM (T-5.VII. The Decision for God)
As I’ve done this laundry list practice in which I give ALL my cares to Spirit, the Voice of the Holy Spirit has grown louder in my mind. I experience this Voice as a quiet but resonant feeling in the core of my being. It is not urgent, it is not impatient. It is like a vibrating feeling of pure joyful stillness.
If you aren’t sure what the Voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like within yourself, turn within, and simply ask Spirit for HELP to learn how to hear this Inner Voice. One of our big blocks in hearing Spirit is that we FIRST decide what we want and THEN ask Spirit to help us make a decision. We wonder why we don’t hear Spirit’s response!
“This is your major problem now. You still make up your mind, and then decide to ask what you should do” (T-30.I.3).
You might not realize that you have already made up your mind in the outcome you want, and so again, all you need is a tiny speck of willingness to see differently by giving ALL your desires and decisions to the Holy Spirit (Also check out “Rules for decision” in A Course in Miracles. It is REALLY helpful. You can find it here: T-30.I in the FIP edition; p. 682 in Sparkle edition; or Chapter 30, Part II in the Original Edition).
So next time you have to make a decision and you’re wondering if you’re doing it with ego vs. Spirit, follow these simple steps.
- PAUSE.
- Does one particular path feel “right?”
- Get honest with Spirit (i.e. yourSelf) about any fears that are present surrounding the decision
- Get honest with yourSelf – have you already decided the outcome that you want?
- Offer your fears and your desired outcome to Spirit.
- Proceed to do what you feel inclined to do while giving your action to Spirit.
Trust that you’ll learn exactly what you need to because you’ve given your decision to Spirit, and ego will fall away as you’re ready to let it go. “A happy learner cannot feel guilty about learning” (T-14.III.1). We need to go THROUGH our lessons, and not skip over them, in order to learn that we WANT the Peace of God. If we get caught up in worry about “will I/did I do the right thing?” this is a lovely ego trap to keep us frozen and listening to its insane voice. We can choose to not listen to this “puff of madness” (T-20.III.8).
As we go THROUGH our lessons, and bring EVERYTHING to the Holy Spirit, we’re no longer supplying the ego with soil to plant its roots. Instead, we’re learning that our roots are ALREADY firmly planted in the Love that we’ve never left.
Hi Corinne, Yes, this is definitely something I’ve thought about and wondered if/when I’m in tune with Spirit and love in my actions and hopes. I tend to feel that if I’m focusing on love, both for myself and others/creation, then my intentions are hopefully in tune. I don’t necessarily think that the ‘ego’ is different from Spirit (I’ve pondered these ideas quite a bit). I think it is possible for both aspects of ourselves to be in harmony… the motivation and intention of thoughts/actions/desires are what I try to focus on now… and whether they come from a place of kindness/love or fear (in some way). Thanks so much for addressing this topic! 🙂
Hi Jules! Thanks so much for your comment. I’m so glad to hear it sounds like you’re in a place where you feel in harmony – that is wonderful! As far as the ego/Spirit piece goes, the ego (according to A Course in Miracles which is the spiritual path I learn/teach from) is simply the part of our mind that has chosen to forget the truth of who we really are (Love, Joy, Eternal, etc.). In other words, I wake up every day thinking I’m “Corinne” when in reality, I’m something much greater (as we all are). So when I learn to listen to Spirit’s voice within me, I learn the truth of who I am, rather than getting reinforcements of the belief that I’m a body. I hope that makes sense! xo
I chose the holy spirit and my life did not get any better in fact it got worse,
Hi Corinne,
Thanks for these insights and quotes from the text.
It’s all inspirational and encouraging and comforting to know.
I try to remember that the ego and Holy Spirit are always present and I have a choice which road to take.
Richard.
Thanks for sharing, Richard!
PS – Intuitive art and the creative process also helps me get out of my head (analytic thinking) and let the divine flow through. 🙂
Hey there, just stopping in and checking out the amazing work you’re doing!
I love this blog post about working with the Holy Spirit. I have to admit that I am new to allowing myself to give up control. The times I’ve allowed my energy and creativity to be guided by the Holy Spirit are some of the best things I done, however.
Thank you for sharing your laundry list technique. I’m going to work on this!
Thanks for your comment Naomi! I love how you say that when you are guided by Spirit that ends up being some of the best things you’ve done. xo
Hi Corinne,
I think we all struggle with this sometimes. The best way I have found for me to know the difference is to ask myself, does this bring me peace, do I feel perfectly loved by this, and is it really helpful? Truth can sometimes feel like an attack and I think that is what trips us up sometimes. But once we learn to accept that truth is good for us always, and will always bring happiness, then we also can learn to relax with the truth and look for the silver lining in it, rather than fear it, or deny it.
Hi Maggie! The ego definitely feels threatened by truth, so I resonate with what you are saying. I really like what you ask yourself: “Does this bring me peace, do I feel perfectly loved by this, and is it really helpful?” Thank you! This is super helpful.
I feel helped by the truth