David…you are ‘masterful’ at clarifying those spiritual concepts of our favourite authors. Keep doing what you’re doing! Mucho gracias ….from a fellow traveller on the “path toward unconditional well-being.”
I totally agree with how you ended this column: "... letting go of your ego. It’s the most important work you can do for yourself, your kids, your spouse, your friends, your coworkers and everyone in your orbit."
But I think meditation and mindfulness are only one way to let go of your ego. If it's working for you, great. But I think there are other ways.
I think the first step for any effort to master our egos is awareness, awareness that you have an ego and how (individual life experiences) and why it developed (to protect us in this world). After awareness of the ego, I think you have to constantly be aware that the ego is always trying to drive your ship. And so, in any situation or event you find yourself in, you need to pause, count to five, and take a deep breath before reacting.
Then, I ask myself "What is my ego saying here?" And then I ask, "What does my ego want me to say or do now?" And I make mental or actual notes in a journal if I have time. And then I ask, "What does my Soul (or Love) want me to say or do here?" Again, I make notes. At that point, I tell myself, "The ego is always wrong and the Soul is always right." Hopefully, at that point, I then say or do what my Soul is quietly guiding me to say or do.
At night, I do a review of my day to see when I was acting from my ego and when I was acting from my Soul (my link to God). The instances where I was ego-driven, I reimagine responding being Soul-driven.
This is just one person's approach to what I think is the ultimate challenge for all of us: mastering the ego and being driven by the Soul.
I LOVE your approach Ken. My only addition is that when you say awareness is key I include that as mindfulness. Love your comments. Thanks for taking the time.
David…you are ‘masterful’ at clarifying those spiritual concepts of our favourite authors. Keep doing what you’re doing! Mucho gracias ….from a fellow traveller on the “path toward unconditional well-being.”
Thanks, Alan. Glad it spoke to you.
Great column David
Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Great column David!
I totally agree with how you ended this column: "... letting go of your ego. It’s the most important work you can do for yourself, your kids, your spouse, your friends, your coworkers and everyone in your orbit."
But I think meditation and mindfulness are only one way to let go of your ego. If it's working for you, great. But I think there are other ways.
I think the first step for any effort to master our egos is awareness, awareness that you have an ego and how (individual life experiences) and why it developed (to protect us in this world). After awareness of the ego, I think you have to constantly be aware that the ego is always trying to drive your ship. And so, in any situation or event you find yourself in, you need to pause, count to five, and take a deep breath before reacting.
Then, I ask myself "What is my ego saying here?" And then I ask, "What does my ego want me to say or do now?" And I make mental or actual notes in a journal if I have time. And then I ask, "What does my Soul (or Love) want me to say or do here?" Again, I make notes. At that point, I tell myself, "The ego is always wrong and the Soul is always right." Hopefully, at that point, I then say or do what my Soul is quietly guiding me to say or do.
At night, I do a review of my day to see when I was acting from my ego and when I was acting from my Soul (my link to God). The instances where I was ego-driven, I reimagine responding being Soul-driven.
This is just one person's approach to what I think is the ultimate challenge for all of us: mastering the ego and being driven by the Soul.
I LOVE your approach Ken. My only addition is that when you say awareness is key I include that as mindfulness. Love your comments. Thanks for taking the time.