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2025-02-02 11:45:38
### The Ego is an Illusion – and Yet, We Can Shape It
Carl Jung spoke of the **Shadow Self**—the repressed parts of our psyche that unconsciously influence our lives. **Buddhism**, on the other hand, teaches that there is no self at all—our ego is an illusion, a fleeting construct that we cling to out of fear of emptiness.
These two perspectives seem to contradict each other. One tells us to integrate our hidden self, the other to dissolve it completely. But what if both are only half the picture?
I believe the **Self is neither a fixed reality nor a mere illusion—it is a shapeable construct.** If that is true, then the path is not to destroy the **Ego-Self** or blindly follow it, but to **consciously shape it.**
### **Between the Shadow and Emptiness**
Our **Ego-Self** is our conscious identity—our thoughts, memories, and beliefs. **Jung** describes the **Self** as the totality of both **the conscious and unconscious mind.** Hidden in this unconscious space is the **Shadow Self**, containing everything we deny, suppress, or refuse to acknowledge. For Jung, the path to wholeness is **integration**—bringing light into the dark corners of the psyche.
**Buddhism**, however, goes further. It questions whether the **Self** exists at all. Our thoughts and emotions arise and disappear, our self-image is ever-changing—so **why do we cling to something so impermanent?**
Both views seem to offer opposite solutions: \
**• Jung:** Become WHOLE by integrating your Shadow. \
**• Buddha:** Become FREE by seeing the Self as an illusion.
But what if the **synthesis of both is the key?**
### The Self as a Shapeable Reality
If the **Self** is not fixed but fluid, then the path forward is neither **pure integration nor total dissolution** but **conscious creation.** \
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**• Acknowledge the Shadow Self instead of fighting it.** \
**• See the Ego-Self not as absolute truth but as a flexible tool. \
• Engage the Solar Plexus—the center of the Unconscious Mind—through breathwork and self-awareness. \
• Use the Vagus Nerve as a bridge between conscious thought and unconscious emotion, actively shaping our beliefs and behaviors.**
This aligns with **New Thought philosophy**, which suggests that our thoughts shape not only our perception but our reality itself. If we embrace this, the question is no longer **“Who am I?”** but rather: **“Who do I want to be—and how can I create that Self?”**
### The Art of Shaping Yourself
Perhaps the **Self** is neither a rigid entity nor a complete illusion but a story we tell ourselves—a story we can rewrite. The key is not to destroy the Ego-Self but to **use it consciously, rather than being used by it.**
So the real question is not: **“Does the Self exist?”**
But rather: **“How aware are we of the fact that we are shaping it every moment?”**