Psychedelics shortcut the process of holding paradox by temporarily dissolving the rigid mental structures that normally enforce either-or thinking. By Breaking Down the Ego’s Need for Certainty The ego is what craves control, certainty, and clear categories. Psychedelics weaken the ego, making you more comfortable with ambiguity. Example: Instead of seeing yourself as a fixed identity (I am this kind of person), you might feel like a fluid part of everything (I am both myself and everything else).