The most meaningful question anyone has ever asked me was, “What would your higher self do?” It’s a familiar phrase, but at the time, it was new to me. I have since tweaked it a bit to say, “What would your highest self do?” If I were going to pause and ask the question at all, I figured I might as well aim for the wisest, most compassionate, most evolved version of myself.
Making space for that question before I speak or act has changed my life in subtle but profound ways. It has stopped me from sending that email, making that comment, writing that text, or choosing that action that might have offered temporary ego-based satisfaction but ultimately failed my soul in the long run.
Some people who meditate regularly report “meeting” their higher selves on a plane beyond this earthly realm, where their subconscious imparts messages to them for their highest good. People who study energy healing and the body’s electromagnetic field have reported communicating with their “higher selves” through intuition or sensation. But these experiences are a bonus, and you don’t need special training or beliefs to access your highest self. You only need to ask, “What would my highest self do or say in this situation?”
Often, the answer comes immediately. And just as often, it contradicts what the ego wants. The ego seeks validation, control, and immediate gratification, rarely pausing to consider consequences. Your highest self, on the other hand, looks beyond. It understands what serves your long-term well-being, even when that path requires restraint, patience, or silence.
Some believe the highest self lives in the subconscious, offering guidance only when invited. Others see it as the soul—divinely inspired and deeply wise. Still others think of it as an inner compass, a conscience, or a moral barometer. However you define it, its function is the same: it guides you toward your highest good. It is a useful tool to tap into when confronted with questions that start with, “Should I . . .?”
Each morning, I begin my day with a simple request: “I invite my highest self to inform my thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and actions today.”
What do you think?