Observing Ego: Part 1
Tip of the cap to spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle for the inspiration!
When your ego is operating in you and you don’t know it, the ego is in control. Those with the biggest ego don’t know what ego is and are not interested in it. The moment you recognize the ego, the moment you see it it is not really the ego anymore, it is an old behavior or thought pattern. Example: name-dropping. Once you recognize that you are doing that you are starting to move away from the ego. And then the next time you are about to do that you can actually OBSERVE that you are doing it and move away. You get to recognize an egoic pattern, and you now know what is happening. Your ego can’t be treated as a friend OR as an enemy, it just is something that steps in. Do not make it your enemy, it will sneak in and you can’t beat it, don’t fight it. Use compassion when you recognize those patterns and habits. When you recognize it do not beat yourself up, just try to laugh at yourself to move away from the egoic patterns.
When you feel like offering an opinion that will not change anything, maybe because you want to assert yourself in a conversation, step back and ask “Do I really need to say this?” And if you step back and observe yourself you will grow in Spirit. You observe, then step back. Avoid showing off your "knowledge" just because you can. If it doesn't help the conversation where is the need? Don’t talk. Blabbing on is ego asserting itself. When you drop it you can thank your “essence identity” and you'll begin to feel real power. The ego is pseudo-power, and when egoic wants are recognized and controlled, you are in touch with your real spiritual self which does NOT need to assert itself.
Occasionally drop the need to assert an opinion. Does someone HAVE to be right? Especially over insignificant details like “Did that happen two weeks or three weeks ago?” that lead to mindless arguments. Not worth it. So, recognize and have compassion with the old patterns and don’t condemn yourself. You are fine.
Tip of the cap to spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle for the inspiration!
When your ego is operating in you and you don’t know it, the ego is in control. Those with the biggest ego don’t know what ego is and are not interested in it. The moment you recognize the ego, the moment you see it it is not really the ego anymore, it is an old behavior or thought pattern. Example: name-dropping. Once you recognize that you are doing that you are starting to move away from the ego. And then the next time you are about to do that you can actually OBSERVE that you are doing it and move away. You get to recognize an egoic pattern, and you now know what is happening. Your ego can’t be treated as a friend OR as an enemy, it just is something that steps in. Do not make it your enemy, it will sneak in and you can’t beat it, don’t fight it. Use compassion when you recognize those patterns and habits. When you recognize it do not beat yourself up, just try to laugh at yourself to move away from the egoic patterns.
When you feel like offering an opinion that will not change anything, maybe because you want to assert yourself in a conversation, step back and ask “Do I really need to say this?” And if you step back and observe yourself you will grow in Spirit. You observe, then step back. Avoid showing off your "knowledge" just because you can. If it doesn't help the conversation where is the need? Don’t talk. Blabbing on is ego asserting itself. When you drop it you can thank your “essence identity” and you'll begin to feel real power. The ego is pseudo-power, and when egoic wants are recognized and controlled, you are in touch with your real spiritual self which does NOT need to assert itself.
Occasionally drop the need to assert an opinion. Does someone HAVE to be right? Especially over insignificant details like “Did that happen two weeks or three weeks ago?” that lead to mindless arguments. Not worth it. So, recognize and have compassion with the old patterns and don’t condemn yourself. You are fine.
