ASK THE COACH
• • • • • • • • • • • •
Overcoming Ego Is the Key to Spiritual Growth
By Dr. Ray Angelini
The Saratogian
June 22, 2004
In our ever more secularized world, with its increased emphasis on our appearance, our achievements, and our possessions, it has become increasingly more difficult to live a spiritually-based life.
In my experience, the biggest obstacle to leading a more spiritual life is our ego. Our ego is simply the idea we have of who we are that we carry around with us. Our ego believes that we are all separate from one another, and this belief undermines the central belief of all spiritual practice (i.e., our fundamental interconnectedness).
In his book The Fire Within, Carlos Castenada says, "Self-importance is man's greatest enemy." The more self-important we feel, the less connected we feel to each other. Wayne Dyer, in his recent book, The Power of Intention, offers seven suggestions to help us transcend the ego's deeply ingrained sense of self-importance. They are as follows:
-
Stop being offended.
What others say or do to us is no reason to be upset. That which offends us only serves to weaken us. Taking offense reinforces the ego's illusion of separation and as such, creates the same destructive energy that offended you in the first place. It is this destructive energy that leads to violence and war.
-
Let go of your need to win.
Our ego loves to divide up the world into winners and losers. Winning takes on much less importance when you move away from ego identification. Strive to be an observer and enjoy experiences without needing to win a trophy. Paradoxically, when you approach life this way, more victories start showing up in your life as you pursue them less.
-
Let go of your need to be right.
Letting go of your need to be right strengthens our connection to the power of spirit. Ask yourself, "Would I rather be right, or would I rather be happy? Choose happiness for it is the best choice you can make.
-
Let go of your need to be superior.
Dyer states, "True nobility isn't about being better than someone else, it's about being better than you used to be." We are all children of God. Letting go of the need to be superior allows us to celebrate more fully our membership in the family of God.
-
Let go of your need to have more.
The primary goal of the ego is to have more. Letting go of the need and desire to have more frees us from the tyranny of the ego and actually allows more abundance to flow into our lives.
-
Let go of identifying yourself on the basis of your achievements.
We come in to this life with nothing and we leave the same way. Everything, including all of our achievements, belongs to God. We are merely stewards for God's great bounty. Strive to view everything in your life as a gift, and then watch what happens.
-
Let go of your reputation.
Our reputation does not reside within us, but rather in the minds of others. Leave your reputation for others to debate and instead focus on what does reside in you, which is your character. Focus each day on strengthening your character and your reputation will take care of itself.
