"The Ego is who we think we are, but the song is who we really are." ~ Ram Dass
We can't lose our ego. No matter how much you try, our ego is a part of who we are. While you can't get rid of it, you can expect more from it.
Like a habit, the best you can do is replace it with a better one.
If your ego was a bubble, how would you expand it?
You'd push it into new roles. You'd tell it that although there will be discomfort and failure, it's the work that you expect it to do.
Below are notes from Ego is the Enemy from Ryan Holiday
Comments from Ryan Holiday's concept talk talk talk which is a chapter in his book Ego is the Enemy.
The premise of this chapter is that people talk a lot and this is a deflection from the more important thing which is action.
Example: Dan the rapper talks about being the next jay-z. he's going to have the cars the money the mansion the Rolex etc.
The problem is Dan invests more time into talking rather than looking at the pad and writing his thoughts that develop into verses.
He invests his time into talking rather than the action of mastering his craft.
Those who know - do not speak
Those who speak - do not know.
~ Lao-Tzu
The ego, which often resists being present, actually needs presence to achieve its deepest desires. This creates a paradox where what the ego wants can only be accomplished by embracing the very thing it fears - being present in the moment.
Below Surface: This represents a state of high presence and self-awareness. At this level, we are most in touch with our true selves and have the greatest freedom to be authentic.
Above Surface: As we move down the levels, we become increasingly disconnected from the present moment and our true selves. At these lower levels, we are more controlled by our conditioned personalities and reactive patterns.
The phrase "going through the hole of lovelessness" suggests that to reach a state of presence, we must confront and move through our ego's fears and defenses, which often manifest as a lack of self-love or connection.
The closer we get to Level 1 (high presence), the more freedom we have to be our authentic selves. This state allows for greater self-expression and alignment with our true nature.
At lower levels of consciousness, we lose touch with reality and become trapped in the "trance of our personalities." This state is characterized by:
In essence, the importance of cultivating presence as a means to overcome the ego's limitations, achieve greater self-awareness, and live more authentically.
