That's a perfect description of my own experience. And I've confirmed it by having periods when I stop or slow practicing (unavoidable, my life is nuts, though I'm working to fix it), and I see these things go away...and then come back when I start again. So no doubt at all.
"having less ego involved, no longer feeling the need to impress or prove a point"
a lot of times this is translated as "detachment". Unfortunately, that's an awfully cold term, and it's easy to get the idea that you're supposed to be so aloof or withdrawn that nothing bugs you. It's not that...you're still engaged (in fact, more so) you just have less at stake in any given result. You immerse in the action but detach from the result.
If you notice this, and cultivate more of it (mostly by witnessing, and being aware how great it feels...though meditation itself will continue to grow it for you), it becomes your way of being. And this is one rare way in which outer experience is actually helpful in meditation. If, as you do practices, you find yourself getting pushy/grabby about "results" (or about anything else), apply this same detachment. Just let it go. Let it all go. More. More. More.
You have no idea how much you're still grabbing all the time ....or how much cumulative joy and ease you have to look forward to as you untie those knots! It's like a big mountain of chocolate to lick.
