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In most spiritual circles, the ego gets
a pretty bad rap. The reason for this is that the ego, to some extent, is
the principle in our psyches that separates us from one another, while
spirit is the principle that shows us that no such separation exists.
Sometimes the ego is depicted as an almost demonic figure that keeps us
from realizing our true nature. But at its most basic, the ego is simply
a tool that helps us organize the various aspects of our personality so
that we can function in the world. In this sense, the ego is simply a way
for us to understand and attend to ourselves — at the same time as we
understand and attend to the world around us. The ego is a tool that we
use to navigate the world.
Perhaps, the problem is that the ego
sometimes gets out of control. This happens when the higher self loses
control of the psyche. The psyche then falls under the leadership of the
ego, an entity that was never meant to lead. The ego is meant to be in the
service of the higher self. When this relationship is functioning, the
ego is a useful intermediary, representing the whole self but not
thinking that it is the whole self. Then, it is almost as if the ego is
the self playfully pretending to be the separate entity called “I.” Like
an actor, the ego plays the roles that the world asks us to play in order
to be part of the program. In this way, the ego can be a tool enabling us
to be in the world but not of it.
As long as we are in touch with our
higher self, our ego is not a threat. They are useful tools in the
service of spirit. We keep our egos in check when we continually nurture
our awareness of who we really are. Then our egos are free to serve
without trying ineffectually to rule. It is healthy to have ego, but like
all things in life, ego functions best when it is in balance and harmony
with your whole self.
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