Episode 17: Navigating the Ego and Authenticity {Soul & Spirit}

Summary

In this enlightening conversation, Yali Giovanni and Sol delve into the concept of the higher self, exploring its significance in personal growth and self-awareness. They discuss the interplay between the higher self and the ego, the importance of authenticity, and the challenges of emotional attachments. The dialogue emphasizes the necessity of presence and awareness in daily life, as well as the value of self-care and setting boundaries. 

The conversation culminates in a discussion about the four A's framework—awareness, acknowledgment, accountability, and abundance—highlighting how these principles can guide individuals toward a more fulfilling life.

Takeaways

The higher self is a guiding force in our lives.
Ego can cloud our judgment and lead us away from our true selves.
Authenticity is essential for personal growth and connection.
Emotional attachments can hinder our progress and clarity.
Setting boundaries is a form of self-care.
Awareness is the first step toward transformation.
Acknowledgment of our flaws allows for growth and improvement.
Accountability helps us stay true to our intentions.
Abundance is a mindset that can be cultivated.
The journey of healing is ongoing and requires patience.

Sound Bites

"Self-care is selfishness."
"Healing is never ending."
"Awareness is key to presence."

Chapters

00:00 Awakening to Higher Self
04:36 Understanding the Soul and Spirit
09:22 Negotiating with the Higher Self
14:09 The Role of Authenticity
19:13 Creating Boundaries for Growth
24:05 The Importance of Presence
29:04 Building Awareness and Accountability
34:01 Embracing Abundance and Discipline

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Greetings, amazing, beautiful souls. Greetings to Awaken Living, where transformation, healing, and alignment comes alive. I am your host, Yali Giovanni, a holistic wellness guide here to share tools, wisdom, and authentic conversations that awaken your highest self. This is your invitation to live fully, consciously, and in flow with life. Today I have an amazing special guest, Sol. Sol and I are going to be talking about what we perceive our higher self will be or is and not, and if we should follow it, what the importance of it all is and what it means to us individually, independently. Sol, but before we go into the discussion, would you like to share a little bit about who you are?

SPEAKER_00 0:44

Yeah, I'm just a young man on a journey to find myself, to continuously evolve. And hopefully through my experience, I can um awaken others and give them insight so they can join me on a well, they'll be on their own journey, but more importantly, they'll be aware and on a journey to being the best that they can be. So that's that's my whole objective.

SPEAKER_02 1:06

Awesome. Well, gratitude for joining me today. So, in talking about the higher self, we have had an amazing conversation, and I think that it's thought-provoking, right? When you say higher self, whose voice are you actually listening to? Are you listening to wisdom? Are you listening to fear? Or are you listening to conditioning that you have learned to trust?

SPEAKER_00 1:28

When I say higher self, I think it's is some untitled individual, like a spirit or God or whatever you may see. Because it's definitely not me, because it's not in my tone. It's it's is it's a very silent, quiet voice in a sense.

SPEAKER_02 1:42

Is is the voice masculine, feminine, or there's no gender specific?

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Is it's very it's very masculine and direct.

SPEAKER_02 1:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:50

But it's very soft at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 1:52

So would you say yours is like a whisper or or like you know, like gentle nudge?

SPEAKER_01 1:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

Okay. So in my interpretation of the higher self, um, it's my soul. And it's what I call my leader, and my spirit is my manager, right? For the most part, the soul is ignored because we're listening more to the manager, right? The manager, the spirit, it's more flawed than the soul is because I think the soul is the purity of who you are, is the God within you. That's what I think the soul is, right? And then we have the spirit that is tainted and it's easily manipulated because we tend to follow whatever society says we ought to do or ought to be. And so then it creates the imbalance of who we are. We question who we are, we question what our purpose is, we forget what our purpose is in our intent. And so I think that the spirit we can learn to pivot the soul as the leader, as part of the creator, we don't taint that. We're unable to taint that. That's just how I see it. And again, it's my opinion. Doesn't make it right or wrong. But that's my opinion of when I say my higher self is my soul guiding and leading me through the path that I that I'm supposed to journey through this life. That's that's just me. Okay? Does that resonate with you in any form or not?

SPEAKER_00 3:20

As far as your perspective on Yeah. Yeah, it it it it does. I think we do have the untouchable imprint. We can call it soul within us, um, that that um that's sort of solid, but the spirit is is definitely what's very powerful. Uh it's like the spirit is what's in connection with this, with this uh what we call reality. And so I think therefore that's why it's it's sort of very influential. So yeah, definitely I agree.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

Okay, gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. And I ask because, you know, we all have our own perspective and ideas of what higher self is, and we're entitled to our own opinion. Not to deviate or to or to um encourage you to be on board with me, but more so to see if it's something that resonates with you as I explain what I feel it is for myself.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

It's it's all truth. Um and I believe truth expresses itself in many different, many ways, but similar ways. So we're we're saying the same thing. It's just I guess it's just depends on whether or not we are wise enough to have our egos in check to the point where to an extent to where we're not trying to be Yes. I I am like like your ego is not in check and and to the point where I'm right and you're wrong. So truth, real truth wouldn't allow that. You know, truth allow me to see where you are and say, okay, I that's that's very I pull out the similarities. And because my ego is is is under control. So so that's why I'm able to hear you and say, okay, I see you. Where you know, you where your understanding is, as well as mine. And when it runs, it should, if it's truth, I believe it should run parallel.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Yeah. And and to piggyback out on what you said, my opinion of the spirit, the manager, is that you're able to taint with your ego, right? And the lead, the soul, you're not able to taint the soul at all because your soul is what's leading you. You're inside of your soul, not your soul inside of you, right? So that's why I say that. But gratitude for your feedback, I really appreciate it. So let me ask you this: what does your higher self believe is possible for you that your current self keeps negotiating away?

SPEAKER_00 5:33

My higher self knows my true purpose. So therefore, um, it's unlimited in the right direction. And so I I believe that my higher self sees me as at my best, you know.

SPEAKER_02 5:44

You negotiating away from your higher self.

SPEAKER_00 5:47

Maybe uh maybe I'm building confidence.

SPEAKER_02 5:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Um, not one to a sense of not necessarily being fearful of putting forth who I am, but necessarily being concerned of how it's accepted and how is it accepted. I've always felt as if I had to satisfy everyone. And in the past, I've satisfied people's arguments, even though I know, you know, they there was really no aim, or it was based on, you know, some destructive emotion like envy or or hate or something like that. And I would not necessarily agree, but I'll just, you know, go along just to get along. And so me building that confidence and knowing about more about my higher self and building the confidence, I'm finding that I don't need to do that. Um, because now I have the tools and the skills to explain my principles. You know, because I don't believe you know a thing until you can teach it. I can actually teach the principles that I'm using if a person's willing to listen. So uh so it's very simple. So yeah, my higher self is helping me see truth in my and that truth and principles I can stand on. It's solid. Um, it's not some condition response like before when I was a child.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

That's what's up. I appreciate that feedback. Um, I think for me, before I got to this space of allowing my higher self, my soul to lead me, I will negotiate with saying that I'm not too smart, or I don't think I can do this, or this is nonsense, or people won't believe me. Like, for instance, like I see things, right? Sometimes when I do readings, I see things so clearly that it may not make sense in the moment, especially for someone that is not ready to receive the information, or the information is so far-fetched that I'm coming across as though I'm crazy. But then months later, it could be weeks, months, or a year later, they come back and they say, Oh my god, you remember when you said this? It's happening. And I'm like, No, I don't remember any of that, right? Because that's my soul leading in the information for that individual. So before I got to the to the point of accepting that this is my gift and I honor it with reverence, and I'm not going to uh diminish or ignore or create any excuse as to why I'm not living in my purpose. That's what I will do. Disappear, right? Disappear because, you know, I don't want people to think that I'm crazy. So that was my negotiation before I fully decided to walk in my acceptance of what my purpose is. And listening to my higher self, which is my soul. So gratitude for sharing that because I think it's important, especially from a man and a woman, men don't think like us. And I think it's important that we have conversations with men and we have more roundtable discussions cohesively, co-ed discussions, that's gonna be helpful and beneficial to us as a community because we have been so pulled apart from us working together that we believe that we're enemies of each other and we're not. You know, and we need to come back to that. And coming back to that is us allowing to listen to the soul, to to watch the guys, to watch the omens, and to pay attention to what it is we shouldn't be doing, as opposed to following what status quo is. So if your higher self was in full control of your decisions for the next year, okay, what would immediately change and what are you afraid to lose?

SPEAKER_00 9:16

Well, I mean, there's some things that I'm already working on as far as health and fitness. So that would be more intense. I can be more focused on my gift. I'm sure if my higher self was in control, I would see more proceeds come from that, not just financial. Because I'm gonna tell you something. The more and more I do this, the more addicted to doing this I get. And not because I'm not seeing it from just the financial side of it. I'm seeing it from I have this information and I want to share it. And once I share it, even just such, you know, filming and recording, the fact that I'm doing that feels my builds my confidence and it makes me I feel like I'm doing just that much more of what I I was put here to do. And so therefore, uh my higher self would have that all I mean, I think it would eat and sleep what it is that I'm here to do. You know, if I'm here to write, I will be writing more consistently. Um because I have something to say.

SPEAKER_01 10:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:11

So and and I think it's different, you know, because it's through my lenses. It's it's a little it's deeper. Um and it's and it's it's serious. So um, yeah, so it would be more blunt and um and straightforward and more um more involved, more connected with the people that really, really need it.

SPEAKER_02 10:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

More organization. Um and and so what's keeping me from those things? Well, I'm so used to procedures and processes, and so to me it's just being organized.

unknown 10:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

Part of it is procrastination. I'm learning how to handle the procrastination part of it, but mostly it's it's just being organized. There's so many things to put together at one time. So my higher self would have it orchestrated a lot better. And and that's one thing I need to learn. I think I'm sabotaging myself with that lack of uh organization. I mean, just basic, simple things of putting things in order is very, very important when it comes to getting the message out there.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

So yeah, so that's that's that, you know, those are those are just, I mean, little, small little things. And it seemed like it's small, but you know, I feel I feel like I have a wealth of information and it's just getting it out and getting it, getting it prepared to put it out. Yeah. And so my higher self probably wouldn't give a damn. My higher self would just probably say, okay, I'm gonna put it out the best way I can. And I think that's that's what I'm resisting. I'm resisting putting it out just any kind of way. But you know, but um just because I know it is even if I'm recording, just the little simple things that I'm saying, I can come back later on, I listen to it, and I'm blow, blown away by some things I'm saying. But in the mean, but while I'm actually doing it and in the process, I feel like maybe I'm shortcutting or misstepping or forgetting something, but in actuality it comes out and the delivery is the way it should be. Um so sometimes it's getting it, sometimes it's getting out of my own way. So my higher self wouldn't be in my own way in a sense. So it's just a little small, little it's a little s because it's the little small things that lead to the bigger things.

SPEAKER_02 12:12

Correct. And it's making the steps. You know, I think we like to make things perfect and we like to make things look pretty and and in order. And your higher self calls us for authenticity and organic, right? Um, which is why I want my segments to be as authentic and organic as possible. You know, you might hear sounds in the in the background, or you know, you might say something and be like, oh man, I forgot to say this, or you know, you you you might skip a sentence or or say something that you want to erase. But I feel as though that as long as we present ourselves as authentic as possible, that's the organic side of us, which is the leader, which is the soul. And I think it's important that we learn that, right? And that we commit to being as authentic as possible. And authenticity doesn't mean that you have to be rude and disrespectful. It just means that you gotta be unapologetic who you are. For me, I wear makeup sometimes. I don't really like wearing makeup. And a lot of people don't know I'm a licensed aesthetician. I used to even teach it. I don't like the process of it. I don't like how long it takes for me to create a whole different face of who I am, right? And then you looking in the mirror, it's not really who you are, but that's just me. I am not knocking anybody that enjoys makeup and love putting all makeup. So please don't come for me. I'm sharing about me. Now, don't get me wrong. I might put a little powder on my face and, you know, fix my eyebrows and, you know, my mascara. I love mascara. Don't get me wrong now. You know, but you know, to put on the layers and layers of foundation and all that. I don't, I don't like doing that, you know? And so that's that's a part of me that's very simplistic. You know, be like, oh, you know, you don't wear makeup. You should wear a little bit. No, I I I should not. I don't like wearing it, so I'm not gonna wear it. I wear it when I want to. So I might wake up today and feel like doing my face a little bit. But that's because I feel like doing it in that moment. Not because I feel I have to create a representative to show its face for me, you know? So I I feel like that is a part of us that we have to relinquish is what society is going to deem for us to be beautiful or authentic, you know? So for me, what would immediately change for me that I'm afraid to lose would be emotional attachment. And I say that because there's some things that I am emotionally attached to um that once I disconnect, it's going to come across as as though I'm selfish, right? Or I'm cold-hearted, or that things are insignificant or people are insignificant. But as I'm going through the process and giving myself the permission to unattach myself emotionally, I'm learning. My higher self is teaching me, is guiding me through the path.

SPEAKER_00 15:02

I'm just curious, like what why why would you, what's the reasoning behind wanting to disconnect from those things, or at least creating boundaries, I guess, for better words.

SPEAKER_02 15:13

Yes, it will be for creating boundaries. As long as I am attached to certain things, people, places, and things, my my judgment is clouded. And I feel as though that I'm pleasing what my soul is no longer happy about, right? So here I am calling for walking in my purpose. And walking in my purpose is requiring me for me to let go of certain things that I'm I wasn't ready to let go, right? So when God source universe forces you, okay, you say you want this, but this gotta go. Yes, right? How bad do you want it? Okay, I really want it. Okay, so this gotta go. So if I'm not making the step, God source universe is going to make the step for me. And it's painful, it hurts. But you know what? You know, through the whole journey, I should say, sorry, is that I'm learning that attachment for us clouds our success.

SPEAKER_01 16:09

It is.

SPEAKER_02 16:10

You know, and I'm seeing how clouded I have been and how inefficient I have been because of my emotional attachment. And it's hurtful, but you know, I'm grieving that process, you know, because you grieve things that no longer serves you. And you gotta be able to be strong enough within yourself to say, you know what? Yes, it hurts. Yes, I'm grieving, but it's it's time to move on.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

There's nothing wrong with a little bit of selfishness. Um, as long as the intent behind it is not malicious. Um I mean, self-care is selfishness. Or getting your nails done and you when grooming yourself. Um, I'm sure it's not it's it's nothing wrong with as long as the intent you're not trying to harm anyone, you're just taking care of you first. And there's nothing wrong with it at all.

SPEAKER_02 16:48

Um saying that's a beautiful Well, gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. So let me ask you something else. Um, because you know, I love our conversations. Do you believe your higher self requires protection, perfection, or presence? Or does that belief shape the way you show up?

SPEAKER_00 17:06

I want to say presence. Um Okay. But more more than likely, awareness of it. I think a lot of times, um, I mean, we've brought the story for a long time that we've been born into sin, to a sinful situation. I think man has created that. Because think about it, from an immature mind, you think somehow that God created this uh uncertainness, it's uncertainty and this unfairness when God created us in his image. So we were created and brought into a great situation, but this environment itself was was the dysfunction. And so I think awareness of that greatness before we've gotten conditioned and programming is is key. And being conscious and consciously aware and walking in that greatness. So yeah, being present it kind of makes sense, you know. Being present now, like I'm I'm aware of this now, not next week when I get rich. No, I'm aware of it now, and I walk with that consciousness. So um yeah, just a reminder that, you know, th this world was, I don't believe, uh uh it's for control reasons, it's been molded into a sinful situation. Um but outside of that, our soul, God in us is is is perfectly well. And so our awareness of that and being present in that now is I think is very important.

SPEAKER_02 18:29

So you said something that's very powerful, in my opinion, is that awareness, right? Awareness is so important. And in my coaching program, the four A's framework that I coach with. A is awareness.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Awareness, right?

SPEAKER_02 18:44

The second A is acknowledgement, acknowledgement, the third A is accountability, and the fourth A is abundance.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Abundance. I like that.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Right? Thank you. Gratitude. So we can be aware of a behavior that we have, right? For instance, I have been working on myself. I have been working on myself because healing is never ending. Once you heal from something, something else is gonna come up for you to heal from. And because we have so much stored in our unconscious and subconscious mind, that once it comes up, you gotta deal with it. I do not entertain small talk. I do small talk, it makes me cringe because I feel like small talks aren't genuine. But that's just my opinion, right? I'm not saying that it's disingenuous, but from my experience, I feel that when people come to me with small talk, you try to introduce something as opposed to saying, hey, you know, this is X, Y, Z. I'm a very straightforward person. Just tell me what it is. So I've been working on that. And I know I've recognized that I need a lot of help in that area, right? So for me, is understanding that in the present moment, when it happens, to catch myself and correct it. Because I think that your higher self requires presence and your present is now. So that's awareness, right? So, in order for you to move beyond just being aware, you gotta acknowledge. So I acknowledge that I can be very short and it comes across rude. Okay, what am I gonna do about that? Right? And then once I acknowledge it, then I work on it. Once I work on it and I become fully present in my awareness of my shortness, then I go into accountability, right? So that means that every time I do it, I may realize it. My higher self is gonna say, hey, you were a little mean right now. Apologize, right? Or the person might say, uh, you are a little nasty because you don't realize how how you are. If I'm observing the person and I see like a body language or their face or facial expression, then I'll say, you know, did I say something that was, you know, or I will I will pencil it for a second and then I come back and I say, you know, when I said this, I wasn't trying to say X, Y, Z, but this is what I meant. And then the abundance. How does abundance come into that? Abundance is being in complete awareness and working on it. So my abundance is not ego, but being okay with correcting yourself. And I think that we have issues correcting ourselves. We have issues being wrong. And it's okay to be wrong, but correct yourself.

SPEAKER_00 21:21

Because sometimes we're we're we're harder on ourselves than others are. And I think mainly is because we've been conditioned to attack ourselves before others do. Or we always feel as if the other person's attacking us. When the other person got their own issues, so they're really not really concerned, even if they're correcting you. They love you and they care for you, and they care for themselves, most importantly, then they are are not chastising, you know. So I've noticed sometimes I'll feel like I'm being attacked when it's it's sometimes it's been malicious in the past, but for the most part, people aren't that way. You want to believe that at least.

SPEAKER_02 21:56

I'm glad that we that we um really. That presence is everything because all we have is right now. Tomorrow is gone. Know what tomorrow is gonna bring. So all we have is right now. So what you go through with your right now.

SPEAKER_00 22:10

Once you you mentioned before about having all the stored things in your mind. Um it's funny how the mind does work. I've seen where as you get over one issue, I don't believe another issue just appears. I think, you know, you have issues that you've maybe, maybe you've silenced um um or blocked out while you're taking taking on another problem that might seem more important. Then once you fix that problem, then the other one on front of the past pops back up. So awareness in those situations is important because uh I guess in that sense it makes a lot of sense through awareness of your higher self. You can do and create anything based on what you're aware of. And so I think that's the most important thing. And then, you know, once once you've acknowledged that, then you can come, you can start correcting yourself as you go that way. Because it's so funny how I've realized how things are happening is you have certain habits that you like say anger or being snippy or or responding to some to something that maybe hurt another person's feelings. I found that even though part of you still wants to respond, you know, because it's programming, you want to respond. But then the higher in you is say, okay, this is your moment. This is your moment. And the sad part about it, psychologically, we feel like it's still weak. Because we really want to cuss that person or overreact. The higher self will not remember the higher self won't choose for you. But it's still telling you, like, this is your moment to show that you're a better person. And I believe greatness is unlocked to you once you're able to. It's not a week to change your mind and do the right thing, is what I'm saying. And so don't think that that first trial by you saying, you know what, I'm not gonna have a drink today, even though part of your mind, like I want to drink this ovada or whatever. And by your first response, your first response is gonna feel weak. Because remember, you're building resistance to the old self. And so it's gonna feel weak, but reject it. And then that rejection is gonna it's gonna build because I believe the kingdom or the truth continuously is open to you based on how you deal with um conquering yourself or your condition, programmed self, not your ideal self, but conquering. So your ideal self is there to help you as a guide, but it will not choose for you. It's all on you.

SPEAKER_02 24:29

Yes, absolutely. Because the truth be told, the war is between you and you. Yes. It's between your soul and your spirit, between your leader and your manager. That's it. It's not anyone outside of you.

SPEAKER_00 24:44

Yeah, but that awareness is so important because if you can get a good snapshot of the awareness of who you are as a woman, as a man, standing there, then when old circumstances pop up where you would respond in like manner because of programming, you gotta know you've been programmed. And so if you can stand in that truth and say, I'm telling you, it will build. Um, I I I I I taught that to myself by working out uh and staying consistent on a a workout regimen. Same thing. The old self is is like, okay, I want to sit here and sleep and lay down or whatever. I'm tired, I'm exhausted. But the ideal self is already fit.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:23

The I still ideal self is already in in in shape and and feeling good and and and smelling good. And so uh I'm trying to get like that. So and it builds. It does build. And you know what? And you'll find that that old self eventually it'll get lower and lower and lower and softer and softer and softer. And then a higher being, higher in you will will get stronger and stronger and stronger. Just trust it. Just trust it by being aware that it exists. It does exist. There's a higher part of all of us because we're God's kids.

SPEAKER_02 25:55

And so Absolutely. And that higher part of us is boundless, it's limitless.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

It's abundant.

SPEAKER_02 26:01

It's untainted. Untainted.

SPEAKER_00 26:05

It's abundant. Absolutely. It's abundant. We have to get out of this thing of lack. Get out of that mindset. It's abundant. And so therefore, that's why our mind should be on abundance, greatness, our intents should be great. Anything that tries to drag us backwards, we should ignore. So that what you said earlier about boundaries and and and disconnecting from certain situations that no longer serve you, um, is is is is as a reasoning for that. So as you evolve, you're gonna start to see that weigh you down. Um we said it before, we're no good to others if we don't take care of ourselves first. The awareness is is key of the presence of the ideal self. It's live and well. And we just have to make a choice to uh eat that.

SPEAKER_02 26:50

Yeah, yes. So gratitude for joining me, soul. I appreciate you. Three things that you shared with us that I believe is powerful is discipline to discipline yourself, have a vision, and be unapologetic. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude for joining me on this amazing topic.

SPEAKER_00 27:05

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Absolutely. And I will be inviting you again so we can have some more soulful conversations. We don't know feminine and masculine energy coming together to have soulful conversations. So, gratitude for joining me on this journey of awakened living. May the insights and practices we share today inspire you to live with more peace, presence, and purpose. If this episode touched your spirit and soul, I invite you to share it, comment, subscribe, and leave a review so that together we can awaken more lives and to connect more deeply, visit Yali Giovanni across our social media platforms or yalligiovanni.com, and you will find resources, events, and holistic offerings to support your journey. Until next time, remember, your light is sacred, your journey is divine, and awaken begins within. Gratitude for joining us today. I am Yali Giovanni. Later, guys.