You cannot use your ego to change.

[Dannyboy1]

I was responding to a post yesterday about someone trying to rid themselves of anger and I realized that this person was fighting to stop fighting. They had the idea that they could attack the problem. That's when I realized the reason many people who are into self help have a problem making lasting changes. They are trying to use their ego to change their ego. Think about it. How is a bad habit created? By the ego. The ego makes all the excuses in the world as to why they shouldn't have to go through all this or become someone they're "not". The ego is what sabotages us every step of the way. It's that little voice that says, "TV makes me relax." or "I like red meat. I don't care if it's bad." You cannot effectively change if you do not address the issue of the ego inside of you. Until you truly recognize the ego, what it is, what it wants, and what it does, you cannot get out from under it's thumb. We all know what we need to do to change, yet we don't do it. Why? Because we need to let go of our identity, our "experiences" that say people are this way or that, our judgments that this will always be this way or that's how that is, and our beliefs, all of them even if we think they're good. That's how the ego distracts you, it tries to get you to identify with this belief or that until you become a zombie spouting off about how this doesn't work or whatever, instead of just observing everything as it comes and doing what needs to be done without question or distraction. If self help isn't working for you, it's not that it's all a bunch of whooie. It's because you are in control of your ego and not your higher self. Until you step back out of your emotions and shine light on your ego and observe it, SEE it, know it for what it really is - DON'T JUDGE IT - that's the ego trying to sneak in the back door and get you to start judging again... until you do this... you can do all the self help you want, but it's going to be tainted by ego and will ultimately fail. But if you do it. You will become free and the changes can be made at lightening speed and you can change anything in your life to what you want it to be. (Not what you "think" it should be... again, that's the ego trying to sneak back in.)

[ar81]

I do have a big ego.
Ego is the main obstacle to change.

I have been auditing it lately, and I am amazed of its destructive power.
It sabotaged me some time ago. It seems to me that ego is driven by anger caused by experiences that forced us to go against our will, or things that lowered selfesteem.

Ego makes me be a jerk...

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by ar81

I do have a big ego.
Ego is the main obstacle to change.

I have been auditing it lately, and I am amazed of its destructive power.
It sabotaged me some time ago. It seems to me that ego is driven by anger caused by experiences that forced us to go against our will, or things that lowered selfesteem.

Ego makes me be a jerk...

Just remember that identity of "who you are" that you value so highly, because it's been brainwashed into us since birth, is all ego. You have to live in the moment and drop the whole thing to see the world clearly without filters. All your values, everything. Just observe and the truth will come not from ego, but from a place of love.

[Angela]

I love this line from Eckhart Tolle:

If you consider the ego to be your personal problem, that's just more ego.

[ar81]

Ego is not me (could it be my ego speaking now?).
What is certain is that you confirm the diagnostic... ego has been a problem.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by ar81

Ego is not me (could it be my ego speaking now?).
What is certain is that you confirm the diagnostic... ego has been a problem.

But, you're judging the ego - that means ego. You must observe it, not judge it.

[The David]

Originally Posted by Angela

I love this line from Eckhart Tolle:

Well, now I'm pretty much afraid to move.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by The David

Well, now I'm pretty much afraid to move.

You make me laugh, The David!

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by The David

Well, now I'm pretty much afraid to move.

You will have ego all your life. The key here is to accept that fact and not make it wrong. You're not extinguishing the ego, just changing your relationship with it.

I'm trying to remember the quote... Jerry Stocking said to see your thoughts as a 9 year old boy talking to a cat. The boy will say anything and the cat will listen but not believe a word the boy says. Here the boy is the ego with his overactive thoughts about the world and the cat is your beingness or awareness.

[Angela]

I love that analogy, Dharma!

[Dharma]

Thanks! That comic is perfect!

[Angela]

We should write a new book: "Be Here Meow."

[backpocket]

Originally Posted by Angela

We should write a new book: "Be Here Meow."

LOL. Personal Development for cat people.

[Erock]

Originally Posted by Angela

We should write a new book: "Be Here Meow."

Angela that comic is AWESOME. Seriously I almost fell out of my seat laughing.

Erock

[Peek]

Why do we have that ego, actually?
It seems like no good, in this setting.

The cat comparing, I will never forget. I needed that one, guys!

Peek