I’ve been mentioning the ego so much in my other posts that I thought I should speak a few words about what it actually is! This is what it means to ME, as in the lens in which I see this term through. Interpret how you will, it’s all up to you after all!! This is where true freedom lies.
So…the EGO. We all have one; yes even gurus and enlightened ones too. It’s about first recognizing that you have one and then going from there. The ego is that voice in your head. You know what one that is ALWAYS talking? Literally always, it never shuts up! Commenting about everything, making judgements about people, things, feelings, experiences. It labels, constructs, tells stories, and creates illusions within the mind that don’t actually exist.
The ego tries to protect itself, tries to have control, it really LOVES control. Over situations, others, the way we perceive certain situations, the way we act. Everything. It does this because it wants more, it always wants and wants and wants and is never satisfied. This is why a lot of us never feel happy when we are searching for things that are outside of ourselves. For when we are searching out, it is almost always the ego calling the shots, the ego at the wheel. And sometimes if you let it, it will drive you to some crazy and dark places. Ever wonder why you freak out over something so small? Why you let “the little things get to you?” Why something about someone else makes you upset? This is all ego.
The ego lives on fear, feeds on fear. This is also why a lot of the things we don’t like about others is actually the things we dislike about ourselves. You can’t dislike something about someone unless you dislike it about yourself. This scares us. It scares us because it sheds a light on the things that we try to hide. But its important to shine this light and not turn away; face these fears and not listen to that voice inside your head. Acknowledge it and then let it go. Let it flow through you like the wind. We are all energy and energy is meant to flow, not remain stuck and stagnant within. So breathe and let it go.
After you recognize this voice inside your head. Begin to notice. What is it saying to you? What kind of language is it using? What is it’s tone like? How does it make you feel? Stressed, anxious, joyful, sad? When you experience these emotions what does this voice do with them? Does it want you to suppress them or to let them out? Whatever you notice happening within, always ask yourself why? Why am I feeling this way? Where is this feeling coming from? Why is it coming from there? Just contemplate and notice. Try to do this without judging yourself.
Perhaps begin to notice the stories you tell yourself. This is a big one! Are they true for you at this time in your existence? Why do you believe them? What do you believe about these stories? If they don’t resonate with you, you can always stop and re-write. AT ANY TIME! You can be who you want in each minute of each day. If you don’t like who you are, what you’re doing, then change the story of yourself. When you do this, you will begin to see your outside world changing as well.
Being present is another way to help calm the waves the ego makes in your mind. There is a saying I like to use, “where awareness goes energy flows”. So, what you are really concentrating on is where most of your effort and energy will go. Make sure it is towards things that will help you to become the highest version of yourself you want to be/already are. The ego really likes to take stories and spin them out of control, adding on layer and layers to these stories that are not true. Notice this and just let it go. As you move through your day, try focusing your awareness on one thing at a time. If your mind wanders (and it will) simply bring it back to what you were doing. Eventually the voice will start to quiet bit by bit, and soon you won’t notice it as much. You may find yourself able to think before you act, stay calmer in situations where you once would’ve lost control, and experience more inner peace instead of living in fear and negative emotions.
The ego will try to hold on. It doesn’t want to let go of its control and its power. It lives in fear, so it will do everything it can to keep it, laying traps for us to get stuck in. This is ok! It’s good to remember we are all on a journey of self-discovery. There is no time-clock. We have infinite amounts of time. Hell, it doesn’t even exist! Just another creation of the mind. So don’t worry, its all a process and know that it will take time and just breathe, relax, and always remember not to be so hard on yourself.
At the end of the day, your thoughts are not you. Just another aspect of the mind. You don’t have to listen to that voice inside your head. You have the ability to tell it no, to simply let your thoughts drift in and out and not allow them to attach themselves to your inner world. For you are the ruler of your inner world, not the slave of your mind.
I hope this helps shed a bit more light on the ego, consciousness, inner world, etc. Ego is one that will come up a lot on this site so if you have any questions or comments feel free to comment or message me!
Peace,
Rylee
