Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile spiritual truths with the reality of our lives. Advice such as “Be still and awaken to the realisation of who you are,” can be extremely difficult because of the presence of the ego.

Dr. Gabor Maté says the egoic mind creates a barrier between ourselves and the universe. A barrier between ourselves and other people, and between us and nature. Unfortunately, the way society is set up also promotes this alienation.

Too often we hear things like: “When we’re not addicted then we’re present, we’re love, we’re connection, we’re wisdom, or we’re the universe”. Dr. Gabor Maté says instead, we can start with where we are by going beyond the ego.