The inner experiencer or observer is the real you. It is the aspect of awareness that watches or our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It exists beyond ego or cultural programming. Learn why cultivating the inner observer self-awareness practices is essential.
Science, philosophy, and spirituality have their own views on the observer. Each approach gives us new perspectives. Although they differ in their approach, they share some similarities.
Many people mistake the mechanisms of ego, personality, and instinct for themselves. They never get in touch with the consciousness behind these tools, so they miss out on many of life’s benefits and subtleties.
The Inner Observer, Presence and Awareness
The inner experiencer or observer uses awareness and presence as tools to gather data about our experience of reality. It’s the partition of consciousness that some call the spirit or soul.
Presence is about being in the moment and knowing what is happening around and inside you. It is an important function of awareness. Presence involves paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings as they unfold.
Awareness is the ability to perceive what is happening, both internally and externally. While presence is engaging in the current moment. Awareness is about recognizing and understanding those experiences.
Awareness is like a lighthouse that scans the horizon, noticing everything around it. Presence is like the beam of light from the lighthouse, which focuses on the here and now. Together, they help you navigate seas of life safely.
Self-awareness is observing thoughts, feelings, motives, and desires. It involves being conscious of your thoughts and emotions and how they influence your behavior. Self-awareness helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses. It governs how you interact with others and the world around you.
Science, philosophy, and spirituality offer differing perspectives. Their views of the inner observer, presence, and awareness are no exception.
A Scientific Perspective. From a scientific perspective, self-observation is linked to parts of the brain that help us be aware of our thoughts and feelings. Scientists study how these brain parts work together to help us stay aware and present.
Philosophical Ideas. Philosophers talk about the inner self as a detached aspect of awareness. It watches our experiences without getting involved. Presence is about involving ourselves in the moment. They view awareness as the capacity to understand our thoughts and actions. Philosophers explore how these ideas help us understand ourselves.
Spiritual Standpoint. In spirituality, the entity observing our lives is our true self, spirit, or soul. Presence is about living in the moment. Awareness gives us an experiential connection to our true self. Spiritual practices like meditation help people connect with their inner experiencer or observer.
Each perspective is a way to understand the inner observer, presence, and awareness. If you use all three perspectives, you have a greater understanding of this aspect of your psyche. When you understand how these mechanisms work, you gain a unique perspective. You have more power and control. You can use this vantage point to correct deficiencies in your thinking and beliefs.
Cultivating Inner Observer Self-Awareness Practices
Although closely related, these two concepts have some key differences. We’ve already talked about how self-awareness is about knowing yourself. Self-awareness is a cognitive skill that helps you understand why you think and act the way you do.
The inner experiencer or observer is our true identity because it is the part of us that is unchanging. Our thoughts, emotions, and external identities can change over time, but our essence remains constant. Say hello to your soul. It is the silent witness to all our experiences, providing a stable sense of self. It is untouched by the programming of beliefs. This aspect of consciousness exists beyond the physical body.
Our connection with self-awareness depends upon the health of our psyche. Both are important for mindfulness, as they help you stay present and aware of your internal experiences. While self-awareness is broader, the inner observer focuses without judgment. Together, they help you understand yourself better and stay balanced.
In science, this function is linked to brain areas that help us be aware of our thoughts and feelings. The cognitive distortions programmed by organized religion have an adverse effect on perception. Perception and thinking are distorted when myths and superstitions become a part of our worldview. Religion distorts our beliefs about ourselves and reality.
Religious beliefs use guilt and fear to manipulate us. One fear tactic is the concept of sin. This is the idea that our essence is flawed and tainted, and only religion can fix this deficiency. Fear of divine punishment causes us to discount our intuition. Religion asks to set aside rational thought to conform to ideological camouflage.
Factors that Affect Presence and Awareness
Presence can fluctuate because of various factors. Science tells how stress, fatigue, distractions, and harmful programming affect presence. It’s more difficult to maintain focus and presence when you’re stressed or tired. When stressed or exhausted, maintaining presence is more difficult. External distractions, such as noise or interruptions, can also pull us away from being completely aware.
Harmful beliefs taint your worldview. They undermine your ability to think without prejudice and bias. Negative beliefs negate your ability to be present. We don’t realize just how harmful sectarian and conservative ideologies are. When your worldview is based on preferential treatment, you are setting up triggers that activate fear and anger. These emotions prevent you from being present. They block your ability to be empathetic and kind. Your ability to connect with inner observer self-awareness is blocked by hate.
From a philosophical perspective, presence helps us connect with our experiences and emotions. philosophers like Martin Heidegger tell us how being present allows us to be more engaged in life. Philosophers often discuss the importance of mindfulness and self-reflection in maintaining presence. When we are preoccupation with the past or future, it prevents us from being present.
Spiritually, presence is about connecting with our divine essence. This connection is strengthened by practices like meditation and mindfulness. Factors such as emotional turmoil or lack of spiritual practice diminishes this relationship. Regular spiritual practice is emphasized to maintain a steady state of presence.
Cultivating the inner observer challenges us to move beyond all boundaries. Freethinking encourages us to experience life directly and authentically. A direct experience with the present moment gives us a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Many factors that affect presence and awareness. The ability to maintain self-awareness and presence requires conscious effort and practice. By understanding and addressing these factors, we can eliminate or minimize those that are harmful.
The Benefits of Cultivating The Inner Observer Mindset
Developing a stronger connection with your inner experiencer or observer has profound benefits. There’s something for every point of view.
Scientifically, presence and awareness reduce stress and improve emotional regulation. This mindset allows you to observe your thoughts and feelings without getting caught up in them. This practice can enhance brain function, leading to better mental clarity and decision-making.
One of the best ways of cultivating the inner observer mindset is by studying subjects like logic and science. When you use the analytical mind, you create a stronger connection with awareness.
Philosophically, cultivating inner observer awareness helps you understand your behavior and thought patterns. Presence allows you to see your actions and reactions more clearly. Presence of mind helps you make choices that align with higher moral values and spiritual virtues.
Spiritually, presence connects you with the inner experiencer or observer with your true self or soul. This mindset encourages mindfulness, helping you live a more fulfilling life.
Together, these three perspectives highlight the importance of awareness and presence. By cultivating the inner observer, you gain the benefits of all three perspectives. Which of these perspectives resonate with you?
Importance of Ego Mechanisms of Personality and Instinct
Most people live their lives on autopilot, filled with tasks. Doing so allows the ego to maintain control of our awareness. As children, we used this default setting to run things while we were busy learning to crawl and walk. Sadly, many adults stay in this mode.
Our modern culture supports this default mode because it makes us more susceptible to manipulation. Religion and its second cousin, the advertising industry, depend upon us being pliable. They create a need, then fill it with whatever they are selling. While the ego is in control, it prevents us from being focused and present. If we were present and aware, we would buy into religion or many other things we buy.
The ego isn’t the problem. We need it. The ego mechanisms of personality and instinct are part of this autopilot setting. Scientifically, our brain has a default mode network that is active when we are not focused on the outside world. This network is involved in self-referential thoughts, like daydreaming or worrying. These automatic processes help us navigate daily life without thinking about every action. However, they also keep us stuck in habitual patterns and prevent us from being present.
Philosophically, the ego is a part of the mind that tries to maintain control and stability. It uses automatic responses to manage our instincts and emotions. We often have no conscious awareness of many of the choices we make. In this autopilot mode, we react to situations based on experiences rather than being present.
Spiritually, many traditions teach the ego creates a false sense of self that is separate from the true self. The ego-driven autopilot mode keeps us focused on our desires, fears, and judgments. These emotional drivers can prevent us from experiencing presence and being mindful.
We cannot do without the ego. The importance of ego mechanisms of personality and instinct is not disputed. They are necessary components of our default mode. When we understand we can move beyond them, then we take back our awareness and live with presence and intention.
Inner Observer Self-Awareness Practices and Methods
Many of the things we can do to cultivate more presence and awareness are easy. Perhaps because they are easy, it’s easy to overlook how much they can help. Some of them only require us to stop and think about what we are doing.
The ego mechanisms of personality and instinct make judgments based on pre-defined values of our worldview. This frees the mind for intellectual processes that require concentration. But it also keeps us from being present and aware. If we understand these mechanisms, we can learn to turn off autopilot when it is unnecessary.
We can strengthen our connection with the inner experiencer or observer with the right tools. By enhance self-awareness, we learn to control the automatic pilot mode of the ego. Here are some effective methods:
Conscious Decision-Making. We make better decisions when we are present rather than on autopilot. Before making a choice, ask yourself if it aligns with your true intentions and values. This practice helps you live more intentionally. It also reduces the influence of pushy salespeople or automatic ego-driven behaviors.
Detachment from Pendulums. In Reality Transurfing, pendulums are collective thought structures that feed off your energy. By detaching from these energy-draining forces, you can maintain your focus. This is done by learning to observe your thoughts before you act upon them.
Keeping a Journal helps you connect with your inner experiencer or observer. A journal shows us our thoughts in black and white. This makes it easy to analyze thoughts and spot trends. Data like this helps you make more conscious choices.
Inner observer self-awareness practices like journaling are proven age-old processes. Journaling connects presence and awareness with memory and intuition. Techniques like automatic writing are powerful and access the subconscious.
Mindfulness meditation is one of the most effective ways of cultivating the inner observer. It is the basis of a calm state of awareness. This process is built on the two-step meditation process. This simple two-step method involves closing the eyes and focusing on breathing the posture. This brings your awareness under the conscious mind’s control instead of the ego. The result is you are present in your experience moment by moment.
The next step is moving mindfulness meditation. Once you are comfortable with the seated stage, you stand, open your eyes, start walking while maintaining your presence. Walking with this mindset in nature is the foundation of the Japanese natural health method called Forest Bathing. Cultivating inner observer self-awareness practices like mindfulness provides a foundation for spiritual practice. It is the building block for more advanced forms of meditation.
Practice Being Non-reactive. This involves pausing before responding to triggers. When something provokes you, take a moment to breathe and observe your emotional response. Learn not to act on it immediately. This creates a gap between stimulus and response, allowing inner observer awareness to guide your actions.
Self-Observation Exercises. Engage in exercises that promote self-observation. Start with something simple, such as noticing your breath or body sensations. This practice helps you stay grounded in the present moment and aware of your internal states.
Third-Person Perspective. The third-person perspective involves viewing your experiences as if you were another person. This technique can help you detach from your ego and objectively see situations. For example, instead of thinking, “I am angry,” you might think, “She is feeling anger.” This perspective results from connecting with the inner observer and self-awareness.
Reduce Self-Deprecating Statements. Be mindful of the language you use about yourself. Avoid self-deprecating statements and negative self-talk, as these can reinforce the ego’s influence. Instead, practice self-compassion and positive affirmations.
Regular Self-Reflection. Set aside time regularly to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This can be done through meditation, journaling, or simply sitting quietly. Self-reflection helps you understand your inner workings. It strengthens your connection with the inner observer.
In Conclusion
Take back control of awareness use inner observer self-awareness practices. This reduces your dependence on the ego mechanisms of personality and instinct. Learn to operate with a mindset of presence. The inner experiencer or observer, is our true essence. It exists beyond your physical body.