KEEP YOUR EGO IN CHECK

What exactly is ego? As defined by Webster’s dictionary it’s just one, self. That’s not much help. How about egocentric? That means self-centered. That makes the definition a bit more clear. Ego materializes in many different ways. Egotism is defined as vanity and vanity is conceit so if you go to the word conceit it’s defined as excessive self esteem.
Understanding the different definitions found for the word ego only goes to one thing. People with big egos think of themselves as pretty darn special. They see themselves as “better” than other people. Is that pathetic or what? I once knew a woman who looked me right in the eyes and told me she was better than I was. I felt really sorry for her.
Have you ever heard of a bruised ego? This is another aspect of ego one should guard against. This can happen when we allow the words or actions of another to hurt us. If you have a low self esteem this can be a bad habit that can run your life and crush your spirit. If you don’t know how to control your emotions, your ego is probably out of balance as well.
A few years ago I read A Course In Miracles. The most important thing I learned from ACIM is to keep your ego in check. This gave me some real clarity. I used to be the type of person that would get the bruised ego. That’s not me anymore. I don’t let the actions or words of others dictate my moods or attitudes. When someone behaves in an unattractive manor I just have to remember what I have learned. This is simply a display of someone else’s ego that has been left unchecked.
The unchecked ego can destroy wonderful relationships and leave you hurt and confused. It has no problem destroying anything or anyone it perceives as a threat. It refuses to be accountable because it is dishonest with itself and with everything it infects. This is the truth it will not accept. It knows no truth because it is smart enough to know that it cannot be trusted.
Ego is evil and destructive. It spreads like a slow, silent spiritual cancer of thought. It’s much like the hopeless alcoholic. Until a person realizes and admits they have a problem they continue to rely on the source of their pain for relief. Talk about a double edged sward.
If you think you might have a problem with ego you probably do. Do you see yourself as more than mere common man? Do you idolize others of higher social status? Do you feel the need to have the best or the latest version of “stuff”? Do you wish you were born under a “lucky star” like your neighbor that appears to have it all? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may need to give some thought to why.
Do you accept yourself the way you are? You should, that doesn’t mean you’re all done, that you’re the best you can be. No matter who you are, there is always room for improvement. Do you like yourself? If you’re not sure than make a list of things you like about yourself and the things you don’t. Take a good look at your list of don’ts and choose to change them. I know that is simple to say. Change them, just like that, ya right. I’m serious, you do have a choice.
One way to make these changes is to get a self improvement book, CD, or DVD. That may not even be enough though. Buying a program of this nature and reading, listening to it, or watching it isn’t enough. Learning and memorizing the teachings of these programs is not the same as living them. The only way I know to actually live the positive changes you learn is to learn on a conscious and subconscious level. You can learn to retain information on both levels with the aid of the methods taught in the pages of The Learning Course. You can find this step by step method of learning at www.thelearningcourse.com Check it out now.