Difference Between Spirit Guides and Higher Self | Light Love & Spirit
Do you talk to yourself often and if so, are you sure it’s you that you’re actually talking too? If you’ve visited my website before then you know that we all have spirit guides and that they are actually pretty easy to communicate with! One of the most common questions I get is “how do I tell the difference between my higher self, spirit guide, and me?” It is something that certainly takes practice but in this article I am going to tell you, how to start deciphering between the three!
The Higher self
If you’re clairaudient like I am (if you talk to yourself often then you might be too) then you probably hear spirit more often than you realize! The higher self is known for popping in at random times to deliver messages, insight, and even warnings. Our higher self LOVES to come through when we are doing mundane tasks such as washing the dishes, driving, folding laundry, and washing our hair.
The higher self is an extension of us and most of the time will come through as our own voice but usually with a difference in verbiage. Your higher self will never talk down to you, discourage you, or deliver information to you that could harm you in any way. When speaking to you, the higher self will have a calming and peaceful demeanor. It will deliver only messages of love…even if it is sometimes “tough love.”
An example of a conversation with the higher self might go something like this:
“I really need to make a change in my life but I don’t know where to start! What if I tell people who I really am and what I really want and then they hate me? It would be easier to just keep living this same day to day, that way I don’t have to risk being alone.” – You “It’s ok to make a change and we deserve this change. Things will unfold for you exactly as they should and while there may be a period of transition, this will be the best thing for us!” – Higher Self “Who am I kidding? I can’t make these changes, I can’t go out on my own. It’s a wonderful dream but nothing more.” – You “The worst thing in life you can do is be untrue to yourself and what makes you happy. You deserve happiness and you will achieve it if you believe in yourself. Do this for us!” – Higher Self
As you can see the higher self is loving, encouraging, and often uses words like “we” and “you” instead of I.
Each spirit guide has their own personality, their own way of communicating, and like the higher self they are always loving and encouraging. To me, the higher self and spirit guides are easy to get mixed up. That is why it is so important to get to know our guides! The best way to get to know your guides is through meditation. It is here that we can ask them to identify themselves, ask for their unique cue, and ask for a name! Once you have started working with your guides on a regular basis it will be much easier to recognize them from the higher self. Spirit guides will usually sound different than our own voice; they may speak in an accent or their voice may come in as a different gender than yours. Your spirit guide is less likely to pop through unprovoked…unlike the higher self. Spirit guides are always on standby to help us but they don’t like to intrude, so unless it’s an emergency they usually sit back and wait until we call on them! A spirit guide will usually give you a cue that it’s them. This could be visual, such as an image or flash of light; it could also be through their own mannerisms. Spirit guides can be funny…really funny or they can be short, firm, and to the point. Just like people (because they once were) each guide is unique and communicates in their own special way.
Getting to know your guides personally is the best way to recognize them and receive their internal guidance and messages.
You and Your Ego
Ahhh the ego, the wonderful wonderful ego. The ego has a bad rap ya know? Normally when we think about the ego we think of someone as being conceited, into themselves, and selfish but that’s not what I’m talking about here. The ego I’m talking about is the one that tries to play it safe. That’s right, the ego is just trying to look out for you man! Usually keeping you safe means keeping you in your comfort zone. Keeping you in your comfort zone means talking you out of things that have any risk involved…at all.
The ego is the one that says even though you hate your job you should stay because it’s a steady paycheck. Your ego may also say that even though you’re unhappy in your relationship you need to stay because it’s too scary in the dating world. Is your ego a jerk or is it just looking out for you? I guess that answer is up to you and how you choose to view things. I look at the ego as a scared little kid who just wants to be safe. This kid misses out on so much because he is constantly talking himself out of things. Viewing the ego this way allows me to have compassion for it, thus having compassion for the darker parts of myself. When my ego pops up I actually thank it for its concern but ask it to please take a backseat so my higher self can come through. It may sound too good to be true but it actually works! I learned this technique in the book May Cause Miracles by Gabby Bernstein. I recommend this book to anyone trying to get closer to the higher self and move out of the space of the ego!
So to recap…
The Higher Self
Sounds like you but uses different verbiage.
Pops up at any time, especially during mundane tasks.
Uses “we” and “you” instead of “I”
Loving, supportive, wise, and encouraging.
Spirit Guides
Spirit guides have their own personalities, identities, and appearances.
They are very easy to communicate with once you start working with them!
Your guides will come through generally only if you call upon them.
Also always loving and encouraging
The Ego
The ego is the voice that says “I can’t”
Negative words, discouraging advice, and playing it safe are all identifiers of the ego.
Interrupts during higher spiritual guidance. The ego needs to be reigned in or it will pop through all of the time!
I hope this article has helped you to discern between the higher self, spirit guides, and you and the ego! For more in-depth development tips please check out the spirit guide e-course or the Intuitive Progression Course!
