Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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The False Self Part 7
May 15, 2025
Amalgamating our ego and soul is a process of spiritual alchemy. For so long, the soul has been “under a crust” and rarely takes the lead. But when it does take the lead, it overwhelmingly commands the situation. Our souls often arise and even take charge during times of great sadness and great happiness—in loss, in birth, in endings, and in new beginnings. They arise in benchmark occasions like weddings, graduations, and anniversaries. Then, they return under the crust.
The False Self Part 6
May 14, 2025
An officer pulled over a car for speeding. He walked to the car window and asked the man for his driver’s license. The officer asked the man, “Do you realize that you were doing 60 in a 35-mile-an-hour zone and that there is a school right here? Why were you going so fast?” The man replied, “I am swamped and late for a vital meeting downtown.” The officer said, “Sir, you could have killed somebody or yourself while speeding to your meeting.” The man replied, “Do you know who I am?” The officer replied,” I see your name on your license.” And the man said, “No, I mean, do you know who I am in this town?”
The False Self Part 5
May 13, 2025
“To thine own self be true” is a line from Act 1, scene 3, of the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. In the play, the king’s chief minister, Polonius, gives his son, Laertes a speech with those now-famous words. It is a father’s blessing and advice as Laertes leaves for university. “To thine own self be true “is one of the most quoted lines in Shakespeare’s works.
The False Self Part 4
May 12, 2025
The false self is part of our ego structure. It sometimes helps us, and sometimes, it deludes us. But in the quest for consciousness, we go through the process of amalgamating our ego, including our false self, and soul. But what is the process of amalgamation, and how do we achieve it? Amalgamation is the union between our ego and our soul. The prerequisite for amalgamation is that the ego first submits to the soul.
The False Self Part 3
May 11, 2025
The title “false self” has terrible connotations. It smacks of being a fraud and fake, both of which are untrustworthy and despicable. After all, the world would come to a grinding halt if deceit took over. If everything and everyone were false, there would be no true friendship or love. There would be no trust or certainty. Also, our entire religious structure, code of ethics, and economy would be thrown into chaos. No one would trust a vendor or the product they purchased.
The False Self Part 2
May 10, 2025
One of the first things we do as children is pretend to be someone we aren’t. With magical thinking, we assume any identity we wish: people, animals, trees, cartoon characters, and more. One Halloween, I was a pirate. And I recall feeling a little more powerful and courageous as we walked up and down the streets, trick-or-treating. Then there were the characters I played in school plays. From an early age we have the freedom to pretend to be someone who we are not.
The False Self Part 1
May 9, 2025
The 1990s British TV Comedy series, “Keeping Up Appearances,” is about Hyacinth Bucket, who wants others to think that she is a member of the upper crust. But the truth is that she is from humble origins and is ashamed of that fact.
Seeing Things Part 5
May 6, 2025
They say that seeing is believing. But is that true? In this world of false images and fakery, we must be sure that what we see is believable. And that includes what we see in the mirror.