To know what our true nature is, we must begin by experiencing and knowing what it is not. We need to be able to discern, to evaluate whether the situation, or thing we want is for our highest good. Remember whatever we believe to be true, is never questioned. So a useful habit is to ask oneself is this true? Particularly if we believe we are right.
Every negative emotions feed the egoic (Lower) mind. Imagine this, whenever the Lower mind gets ‘hungry’ it searches through our database (left hemisphere). When it finds an old fear or anxiety and brings it to the surface, (e.g. if you are frightened of flying and you are going on holidays) a strong emotional feeling such as anxiety, runs through the body and it gets fed. We try to ‘fix’ the anxiety, but little realize that in a day, week, or month, when the egoic mind wants another feed it will bring that same fear (or another) up again.
The mind (Lower Mind) cannot find the solution to your problems. In searching the mind for the answers you will only find past practices which led you to where you are right now.
So that is why we say, first we must find out whether it is true. The mind can either destroy you or liberate you depending on whether your mind is your Master or your good and faithful servant. In the same way that fire can be a good servant, bringing you light, warming you and cooking your meals, but if it gets out of control, it will destroy all that it touches. In fact, all the elements are the same, they will either help the Earth and all that lives on it or destroy. So it is with the mind.
I Am Not My Mind. It is an instrument for my use.