Conscious awareness resides in the ego and the super ego, above the superficial level of the waves. The waves are the trappings of our desire, the superficial circumstances, our culture, the places we go, the things we do, what we possess and and that which we seek. Our waves and how well they are ridden, become our ego-identity; the defense mechanisms that color our personal surf boards may be visible or hidden. We surf because waves exist. Our ego-identity is our board and the waves we choose to ride. Jet streams can change everything.
The infantile, inherited Id, completely unconscious, the developed (or not) super ego, largely unconscious, and the ego, that which hides behind the “I” and the “me”, tell us we must surf or we will drown. Unfortunately, we will if we don’t. Without another plan, we will sink to the depths of the Id and super ego, lost in the dark where our screams go unheard. All three are necessary psyche components for survival.
Yet, in the pursuit of SELF, discovery, improvement, etc., we often say that we should shed our egos to find true SELF. However, the key to SELF actualization lies in transcendence, going beyond the limits of the conceived ego, to the place above the surface, above the waves that are stirred and changed by the unpredictable winds, above the superficial, false, belief laden ego-identity we have formed in the current.
The SELF is not found in the depths of our being, rather it is experienced in our growth as an individual toward fulfillment of the highest needs; those for meaning in life, particularly. The SELF is found above the waves, above the ocean, in conscious awareness viewing the whole beautiful yet dangerous, exciting though frightening, wildly turbulent sea of life from a state of awareness that sees the psyche. “I am surfing on a crappy board because mine was stolen by some asshole” equals ego. “I see myself judging, blaming others, and desiring to make excuses for my own perceived identity flaws”, equals conscious self awareness.
SELF actualization is an extraction process that begins with untethering your soul from your thoughts, those voices you have learned to trust as a life preserver, the ones you unconsciously believe to be a genuine guide. The matrix is rooted and complex; reinforced moment by moment in the surf. Contrary to popular theories about acquiring peace of mind, one cannot just “Let it go”. We cannot choose to be happy, we find it by unraveling our belief systems, despite the powerful winds that we navigate for survival.
The higher we rise, the more the view appears to be ONE.
