What is the ego?
These days we don’t run into dangers like that all that often.
But the ego (industrious little thing that it is) needs to feel employed and important.
It does this by inspiring fear, self-judgment, and judgment of others.
How the ego shows up in our lives.
Think about the source of any of your anxieties.
or, even, “What will I wear to the…?").
All these future events your ego is worrying about?
They don’t exist.
I mean, maybe you won’t get that promotion.
Well, you’ll deal with it in the moment just like you’ve always dealt with any hardship.
Projecting about it and worrying about it is a useless waste of your energy.
If the answer is no, then stop worrying.
Listen to your breath and allow it to bring you into the moment.
Do something that brings you joy.
If the answer is yes, then stop worrying and get busy.
The same thing applies to the past.
The ego loves to keep us trapped thererehashing old hurts, perceived mistakes, ancient regrets.
What good do these obsessions do?
Presumably, you’ve learned the lesson and you have or will apply it to future decisions.
You did the best you could.
Your ego thrives on separating you from the moment and from others who share in this moment with you.
Here are three strategies that can help you free yourself from it:
1.
In her philosophy, love is the only emotion.
Fear is an illusion.
It’s amazing how solutions suddenly occur to you once you’re no longer trapped in the fear/anxiety loop.
Challenge yourself to stop complaining for a week, and see what happens.
Whenever you catch yourself getting negative, try tocome back to gratitudeand see how life opens up for you.
The ego always wants to improve on the current moment.
Don’t let it draw you down that path.
When all else fails, be grateful.
It’s hard to be down and out while also feeling grateful.
You may try the above suggestions and find that you begin to get angry.
This is totally normal.
This is the ego defending itself.
It’s throwing up any obstacle it can into your path.
Its main goal, remember, is to maintain the separation.
This whole practice of dissolving ego is like one big detox.
You know the headaches, cravings, and bad mood that can follow a night of indulging?
That’s your liver detoxing.
The anger and self-righteousness you begin to feel after starting this process is the same thing.
Start small and keep writing.
Is the sun coming through the window?
Or maybe it’s raining and you love the rain.
Maybe your favorite show is on later.
Maybe your socks match and that makes you happy.
Just write it down.
This is your one small step back toward your path.
Striving for perfection is a trait of the ego too.
So remember that each breath, each moment, each movement you make is your destination.
Even as you begin, know you have already arrived.
