YBM. Vocabulary Guide

The Role of Language in Philosophy, Science, and Religion

Throughout history, language has been the foundation of human understanding. Whether in philosophy, where words shape our deepest inquiries, in science, where precise definitions create clear distinctions, or in religion, where sacred texts guide spiritual practice—language is the bridge between thought and reality.

But language is also fluid. Words gain meaning through experience and perspective. Too often, we use words without anchoring them to meaning, regurgitating phrases without understanding their depth. This is especially true in personal understanding, where misinterpretations can cause confusion rather than clarity.

Language and the Mirror Voyage

In the You Before Me framework, the way we hear and use words teaches us about our percentages (Soul, Shadow, Ego). Words can be mirrors, revealing how we see ourselves, others, and reality.

Understanding key terms within YBM is crucial, not as rigid definitions but as living concepts that evolve with your journey. Below is a vocabulary list that explores their proper usage, common misinterpretations, and how they fit into the Mirror Voyage.

Common Misuses of Key YBM Words:

Ego – A space where identity, perception, and self-image operate.

Correct Usage: "Ego is the space where conditioned responses and identity-based interactions take place."
Misuse: "My ego is annoying." (This assumes ego is a separate entity rather than an aspect of self that can be navigated.)
Misuse: "I need to kill my ego." (This frames ego as an enemy rather than a space to be understood and integrated.)

Shadow – A space where unintegrated aspects of the self reside, often projected outward.

Correct Usage: "Shadow is the space where suppressed emotions and unseen patterns operate."
Misuse: "My shadow made me do it." (The shadow is not a force controlling actions but an unconscious space that needs awareness.)
Misuse: "I don’t have a shadow; I’ve worked through all my issues." (Everyone has aspects in the shadow; it’s not about elimination but integration.)

Soul – A space of awareness, intuition, and connection beyond conditioned identity.

Correct Usage: "Soul is the space where awareness, depth, and clarity emerge beyond conditioned thought."
Misuse: "My soul is deeper than my ego." (This implies ownership and opposition rather than recognizing both as spaces within being.)
Misuse: "I lost my soul." (Soul is not something that can be lost—only obscured by identification with other spaces.)

Awareness – A space where observation, clarity, and non-identification take place.

Correct Usage: "Awareness is the space where thoughts and emotions can be observed without full identification."
Misuse: "I am fully aware at all times." (Awareness fluctuates—it is a function that expands and contracts based on presence.)
Misuse: "Awareness means being positive all the time." (Awareness includes seeing all aspects of experience, not just what feels good.)

More words Related to the YBM Framework

Reflection – A space where perception is turned inward through experience, people, and interactions.

Correct Usage: "Reflection is the space where external experiences reveal something about internal reality."
Misuse: "People are just mirrors of me, so it’s their fault I feel this way." (Reflection is about learning from what you see, not blaming others for what is revealed.)

Projection – A space where unconscious material is attributed to external situations or people.

Correct Usage: "Projection is the space where internal fears and judgments appear to belong to others instead of oneself."
Misuse: "You’re just projecting!" (Projection is best recognized in oneself, not as a defensive accusation toward others.)

Integration – A space where fragmented aspects of self are acknowledged and brought into alignment.

Correct Usage: "Integration is the space where awareness allows previously hidden aspects of self to be recognized and accepted."
Misuse: "I’ve fully integrated—I have nothing left to work on." (Integration is an ongoing process, not a final destination.)

Identification – A space where thoughts, emotions, or roles are mistaken for the totality of self.

Correct Usage: "Identification is the space where perception narrows to believe thoughts or emotions are absolute truth."
Misuse: "I’m just an angry person." (This assumes emotion defines identity rather than being a temporary experience.)

Observation – A space where experiences, thoughts, and reactions can be seen without entanglement.

Correct Usage: "Observation is the space where self-awareness expands without the need for immediate reaction."
Misuse: "If I just observe, I don’t have to take responsibility for my actions." (Observation isn’t avoidance—it’s awareness leading to conscious action.)

Separation – A space where one perceives oneself as completely distinct from others and the world.

Correct Usage: "Separation is the space where the illusion of total disconnection from others can take hold."
Misuse: "I’m separate from others, so their struggles don’t affect me." (Separation isn’t a justification for disengagement but a perspective to examine.)

Expansion – A space where rigid identity structures dissolve, allowing for greater fluidity and connection.

Correct Usage: "Expansion is the space where self-concept loosens, making room for deeper understanding."
Misuse: "Expansion means always feeling good." (Growth often involves discomfort and dismantling old perspectives.)

Attachment – A space where clinging to an idea, belief, or identity restricts perception.

Correct Usage: "Attachment is the space where self-investment in an idea or role creates resistance to change."
Misuse: "Attachment is bad—I need to be detached from everything." (Some attachment is natural and necessary—awareness of it is what matters.)

Detachment – A space where experience is engaged with less identification and rigidity.

Correct Usage: "Detachment is the space where one can engage with emotions and experiences without being consumed by them."
Misuse: "Detachment means not caring about anything." (Detachment is about reducing identification, not emotional numbness.)

Perception – A space where reality is interpreted based on conditioning and experience.

Correct Usage: "Perception is the space where reality is filtered through past experiences, beliefs, and current state of mind."
Misuse: "What I perceive is the absolute truth." (Perception is subjective, not an objective reality.)

Rhythm – A space where life’s natural flow becomes more apparent when alignment occurs.

Correct Usage: "Rhythm is the space where action and stillness find balance, allowing for movement without force."
Misuse: "Rhythm means always knowing what’s next." (Rhythm is about flow, not certainty.)

Why This Matters

Language is more than communication—it’s the architecture of perception. The way we define and use words shapes how we engage with reality, ourselves, and others. Every phrase we adopt carries an implicit worldview, and when we use language unconsciously, we reinforce the very patterns we seek to transcend.

In the Mirror Voyage of You Before Me, the precision of language matters because words are the tools we use to navigate the spaces of Ego, Shadow, and Soul. Misusing or misunderstanding these terms can create loops, keeping someone trapped in an unconscious cycle, unable to fully integrate an experience. Conversely, refining language creates clarity, reducing resistance and allowing for greater expansion.

Building a Mental Library

Developing a mental library of vocabulary is essential—not just to articulate thoughts and experiences, but to observe how we do this. The words we choose can reveal our biases, attachments, and unconscious patterns, offering insights into our 33.3% Ego, Shadow, and Soul balance.

However, this process has a slippery slope:

The pursuit of knowledge and intellect can become an attachment in itself.
Language should be a tool for self-understanding, not a way to fix, control, or create superiority in the external world.
The more we identify with intellect, the easier it becomes to mistake complexity for clarity—using precise terminology but remaining blind to deeper personal attachments.

Mastery of language isn’t about accumulating words; it’s about using them as a mirror to reflect and refine our perception.

How Bias and Word Usage Create Loops

Consider two people discussing ego:

Person A: “My ego is annoying.”
Person B: “Ego is a space where conditioned responses arise.”

What’s happening?
Person A is reinforcing a separation between “themselves” and “ego,” seeing it as an external enemy to battle or eliminate. This framing can lead to spiritual bypassing, repression, or an endless fight against an aspect of their own mind.

Person B, however, acknowledges ego as a functional space within them. Instead of resisting it, they observe it, making room for understanding rather than combat. This subtle shift in language moves them out of identification and into awareness, making integration faster and smoother.

Now apply this to shadow work:

Person A: “My shadow made me do that.”
Person B: “Shadow is a space where suppressed patterns operate.”

What’s happening?
Person A externalizes the shadow, turning it into a scapegoat. This removes accountability and keeps them stuck in cycles of unconscious behavior. They remain blind to the fact that their 33.3% ego space is dominating because they’ve turned shadow into a separate entity rather than seeing it as part of their inner mechanics.

Person B, however, recognizes that shadow is a space within them, one that can be observed and integrated. Their 33.3% awareness space is active, allowing them to navigate rather than react.

The 33.3% Trinity and Language Reflection

Each person’s language reflects the balance of their 33.3% Ego, Shadow, and Soul at a given moment.

You can hear someone's percentages in the way they speak.

Breaking Free Through Awareness of Words

By becoming aware of how we use words, we become aware of how we engage with perception itself.

But this isn’t about achieving a perfect vocabulary—because language, like perception, is always evolving.

The real question isn’t, “Am I using the right words?” but:

“Do my words reflect my experience, or am I reinforcing a cycle without realizing it?”

Someone could use precise terminology but still be trapped in superiority, thinking they’ve “figured it out” while subtly reinforcing an identity around awareness itself.

Clarity in language isn’t about control—it’s about noticing where our words reveal attachment, avoidance, or unconscious patterns.

This is why language matters in You Before Me—not as a system to police or perfect, but as a mirror—a way to see how we shape reality through the words we choose.

When you refine your language, you refine your ability to see, not to control.

And when you refine your ability to see, you refine your ability to let go.