I was on the massage table getting the knots worked out of my spine a couple of days ago and I was obviously NOT in the moment because when I left my therapists, I had a blog mapped out.

I have not idea what got me thinking about this in the first place, I’m kinda crazy that way. But I  came up with my version of the difference between Intuition, Ego and Instinct. To help me explain it better (and maybe b/c I’m just a little nerdy), I even created my version of Maslow’s Triangle. Well, his had to do with basic needs. Mine is similar but it explains the hierarchy of the Self.

Think of the triangle as you. It is you in your entirety.

The very basic, animal part of you is Instinct. It reacts quickly and responds to fear, stress and any strong emotion if you let it. Think, “fight or flight.” A lot of this has been worked out of us to make us civilized, so it doesn’t take up very much room any more.

The main part of us (or maybe it’s just me?) is the Ego. This is what the average person uses all day, every day. This is the “human” part. It is how we think, compare, remember…all of those kinds of things. It helps us solve problems rationally. It also takes things personally, like when Aunt Clara told you that the sweater you were wearing made you look like your mother.

The Ego is where we get stuck when we assume things, or when we spend a lot of time feeling guilt, worry, or shame. Although sometimes you might feel anger or love here too. It all depends. (The EGO is not necessarily bad! It is required to help us distinguish “me” from “you.” Just want to put that out there…)

The Intuition (or Authentic Self, as I like to call it. You can call it spirit, soul, Source, Universe, God, inner wisdom etc…) is the Highest Self. It doesn’t take up a lot of room, and it is the hardest to access because it’s fairly quiet. I like to think of the intuition as the direct connection to God, or “God’s Instincts.” Intuition is a whisper. You might only hear it once, or you might have a nagging feeling that doesn’t go away. You might look back at a situation and see your intuition warning your clearly, and yet you ignored it. Why? Because the Ego is louder, stronger and likes to get its’ way. So it will try to butt in every time. Take time to get to know your intuition.

I have a quick exercise, if you’re interested.

It takes about 15 minutes of pure, quiet and uninterrupted time. It’s worth it.

Grab a quiet, comfortable place where people will not bug you. And then just sit. Close your eyes. Or not. Then just observe your thoughts. They probably look something like, “this is stupid. I have better things to be doing. Did I remember to take the roast out of the freezer? Is that pot-luck next week or the week after? Should I apologize to my sister, or was the argument her fault…I hate giving in, but someone has to be the bigger women…..” And round and round your thoughts will go. I have a busy brain so I can completely understand.

Just let the thoughts be. Think them, but don’t attack yourself for having them.  Some might call this meditation. You might not be great at it, at first, but with practice (see last Wednesdays blog) it will get easier. After a while you will be able to differentiate the difference between your intuition and your ego.

There are tonnes of variations of this exercise out there. A favorite of mine is what Martha Beck calls “Doing nothing” in her book The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life (I HIGHLY recommend the book if you’re interested in more great ways to get to know your Authentic Self!)

If you are interested in learning even more about this topic, check out this program.

Want to use this in your eZine or on your blog? That’s fine as long as you don’t alter it in any way and include the following:

Kimberly Englot is the Authentic-Life Coach, & CEO of Authentic Self Personal Development. Her VIP Coaching and group programs  will teach you to discover your authentic self and be free to change careers, find relationships, lose weight and pursue greatness! Clear away 6 years of “baggage” in 6 weeks with The Master LIFE Cleanse.