The Illusion of the Self: What Does It Mean to Be “You”?

SCIENCE GOD and YOU: The Ancient Theory of Everything by Jim Gleeson is a thought-provoking book that grasps the disciplines of consciousness and self-awareness. As we scour deeper into both, we cling ourselves to the very concept of the illusion of the self. What does it mean to be “you”? I recommend pausing and thinking about it for a moment.

In my personal stance, I’ve always considered myself to be quite “aware” or “self-conscious” to some degree. But it got me thinking, do I really know myself? What if all along, I’ve never delved deep enough into who I am and just knew a small fraction of myself that I thought I knew many – is this what we call an illusion? – an illusion of the self? 

Think about the word “you.”

Is it sheerly the name people call you? The thoughts running through your mind? The reflection in the mirror?

We grow up with a sense that there is a “me” – an identity that continues unchanged through time. But as science, philosophy, and ancient wisdom traditions all suggest, this might be one of the biggest illusions we live with. The self – this constant “I” – may not be as solid as we think. Many traditions point to the illusion of the self as a key insight into freedom.

Come with me as I dive into this strange yet intriguing, disorienting, yet liberating idea: that the self might be an illusion and what that means for how we live our lives.

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Remember how you were ten years ago?

Like everyone says, the only constant in this world is change. Who you were ten years ago is left in the past, and now you are anew, but with bits and pieces of yourself from the past.

Maybe your taste in music has changed. Your beliefs have evolved. You’ve loved, lost, learned, grown. If someone compared “you” now to the “you” back then, they might seem like completely different people.

And in some ways, they are.

Neuroscience shows us that the brain is constantly rewiring itself. Memories fade, reinterpret, or get reshaped entirely. Even your cells are mostly replaced every 7-10 years. So what exactly is this “you” that’s supposed to remain the same?

If your body, your thoughts, and your personality can all change, what remains?

The Brain’s Trick: Creating a “Self”

Cognitive science suggests that the sense of self is a mental construct – a narrative that your brain creates to keep track of experiences. It’s like the central character in a movie: your story needs someone to follow, so your brain invents “you.”

But unlike a real protagonist, this self isn’t found in one place in the brain. There’s no “self center.” Instead, it’s stitched together from moment-to-moment experiences. When you stop and look for the self, it’s slippery. Like trying to catch fog with your hands.

This is the illusion of the self: the idea that there’s a fixed, unchanging core behind your eyes, pulling the strings.

What If the Self Is a Story?

Each day is a new page, each year a new chapter. Your life is like a book. 

The self is the character you write through your choices, your struggles, and your dreams. But here’s the twist: you are also the author. The thing is, the illusion isn’t that you don’t exist at all. It’s that you think you’re only the character, when you might actually be the storyteller.

This shift in perspective can be powerful. It means you’re not stuck. You’re not trapped by old definitions. If the self is a story, then you can change the plot at any time. Recognizing the illusion of the self gives you room to become something more fluid, more alive.

Beyond the Illusion of the Self

Clinging deeply to a rigid identity disrupts change and causes suffering. When we loosen our grip on the ego, we open ourselves to being freer. At the end of the day, it’s not about losing your personality. In fact, it is about realizing that the self is flexible. That you’re not the sum of your past mistakes or your fears about the future.

You are the awareness behind it all. Watching. Experiencing. Evolving.

So… What Does It Mean to Be You?

Perhaps being “you” is not about finding some ultimate answer. Maybe it’s about embracing the questions and living into the mystery. 

Being “you” means recognizing you are alive, shifting, and becoming something new with every breath – not a fixed point in space. You’re not the voice in your head. You’re not your mere name, or even your memories. You’re something deeper: the ever-changing experience of being.

You are a process, you are beautiful.

At last, if you are interested in understanding more, unclasping your consciousness and self-awareness further, and being provoked by something riveting, SCIENCE GOD and YOU: The Ancient Theory of Everything by Jim Gleeson might be the book for you. You can seize a copy at Barnes & Noble.