I believe the earth is going through a transformation. It is beginning at the grass-roots level and it is spreading fast. Here is a good example of what I'm talking about.
It's not going to be about what you do, but how you do it. It's about fulfilling your destiny. On some level, we are feeling the call to change and to prepare for what is ahead. It will require people to live their lives consciously, in an awakened state. You will have the choice between the reactive force of the ego, or the alert attention of the awakened consciousness.
I could go on and on, but let me just say, this is not an easy task, this living in an awakened state. It requires work. The ego needs regular food, and it is ravenous. For instance, we all have buttons, that when pushed exude a rash of negative thinking. Families are great at pushing those buttons, maybe coworkers, the news, and definitely other drivers. I'm learning to envision my ego eating a great big sandwich every time I feed it with thoughts of jealousy, anger, greed, envy, judging, etc. Some days it gets lots of sandwiches. It then grows and gets bigger and bigger, and harder and harder to handle. Now that I am aware of this fatso inside me, I've been vigilant at not giving it any more sandwiches than I need to. However, this heightened state of awareness is difficult. Pema Chodron, when working on the same issue, asked her teacher why everything bothered her so much, why she was so cranky, and he replied because she was now aware of her ego/thinking for the first time. It does make you cranky, it's really hard to be mindful and not add to the negativity of the world. After all, we all like nice big sandwiches sometimes, and so does your ego.
29 comments:
I empathize with your struggle. After becoming aware, after reaching a new level of consciousness, the struggle does not get easier, but harder. I am reminded by what Tolle said in his book, The Power of Now - just being aware of those feelings is enough. By writing this blog, I don't see your ego growing sumo on you. In fact, you are starving it.
I tend to agree with the previous comment. It is so easy to be "full of oneself". Isn't this the battle we all face eventually? "The bigger you are the harder you fall", that is the quip I used to hear growing up. Had to grow up to understand the full meaning, though. Good post, thanks.
Not any more sandwiches than needed. I can see big time the fine line of that awareness. A healthy ego and the awakened conciousness of our choices. Bad ego, gimme that sandwich. Wonderful post.
Funny you referred to synch ro ni zing post today. I read it early this morning and then Ruth & I had a back & forth via email. I think we all do have the power to change things. If we didn't, some of these political elections would not be as tight as they are. I mean, Al Franken, as an example, winning by some 300 votes? That's unbelievable.
Self-awareness is a double-edged sword. Through years of introspection and exploration, I have developed a keen sense of my own inner self. Sometimes that leads to the joy of discovery about who I am...and other times it makes me cringe when I realize that I'm not who I thought I was. That's a painful process, but a necessary one in order to become a better man.
It is only through discovery of ourselves that can we learn all the things that we are truly capable of.
It's all about making good choices. We all struggle with that.
This topic was a good choice for an Entry.
Hugs, Rose
Hi,
An interesting post, that is life if we are receptive we can learn something new everyday.
Awareness is important so is taking responsibility for ones actions.
Have a good weekend.
Love,
Herrad
You've got me thinking. :)
Taming the ego...it is hard work. Somehow, once you understand it and start trying to tame it there is no turning back. Even when I get frustrated with life, I always go back to living in that "spiritual mindset".
Dwelling on things that are good, lovely, virtuous, to be lauded...that's what it's all about! Like that sandwich image...I think it will stick with all of us! Bravo! ~Janine XO
Good reminder! I love Pema's work, especially the reminder that this is an effort in "practice" not IN perfection.
I wonder if you've read any Don Miguel Ruiz? In Beyond Fear he talks about this - about not feeding the negativity, about not living in hell here, but creating heaven on earth. I highly recommend it. I read this shortly after Tolle's Power of Now and it was helpful with concrete ways to attack the bad energy.
Thank you so much for picking up the theme with me. I believe that while circumstances get worse around us, our human connections will improve and deepen.
We just have to keep stalking it!
It does seem like a lifelong process, doesn't it? Maybe sometimes getting out of hand, reeling it back in, monitoring. But it's nice to rule our days with the power of positive thinking.
Yes, we all need to feed our egos because we all need to feel needed and wanted and valuable and loved. If only we would tell each other more often how much we value each other, and do it graciously, without jealousy and envy etc., that sandwich would get smaller, wouldn't it!Blessings, Star
I am with you Star. I think it takes a huge amount of growth to be GENUINELY happy for other's success, and to be able to 'love' someone who is perceived to have more than you.
The ego feels very childish to me, it is when I feel two years old, that I realise I am acting from an ego space.If all our needs for approval were being met by others, and from our 'self' through positive self talk, then the two year old sandwich muncher would just not awaken.
I can so relate to this post....a great one by the way
Jeff's comment particularly touhed base.
I am going to begin a food plan of small fruits and veggies!
Linda
I agree with living with awareness but at the same time, this is something I have to remind myself, it shouldn't have to be a lot of work. It should be fun. One of my biggest challenges is not to be too hard on myself and I think you are right but I wouldn't want you to feel that this is one more pressure on you, one more thing that has to be done correctly.
Thanks for your posts on my blog.
warmly,
ERika
I know that things are bad, but I feel a sense of hope. People seem to be starting to care. They care what goes in and on their bodies. They care what they do to the earth. When I buy local food or try to repurpose something rather than throwing it away or other small steps, I feel a tiny bit more positive.
ascension as a process is a shattering journey for most of us, because to move forward we must stop going backwards and human nature wants us to live in the past, review the past, blame the past........
the earth energies now are such that we are all being pushed, shoved and prodded into place- to fight it causes pain and comes directly from ego.
I wish you and I could sit down with coffee - or wine - and talk about this for a whole afternoon.
This is a moment when we're going to have to make an evolutionary leap. I believe that leap is in process, and the change in climate is a part of it. I also think we're noticing some of the fallout from the shift of consciousness: ADD, Alzheimers, Autism and other bits of chaos that always attend evolution.
I am a student of Pema Chodron as well. She is truly the baddest ass Buddhist EVER.
I feel excited whenever I read these posts of yours. It actually IS the Age of Aquarius. Wow!!
love raw salad sandwiches too. Love to live for the people with healthy wealth and serenity, hope you find http://theinnozablog.blogspot.com and can follow the posts and share the water-cure protocol formula with all children (to eradicate asthma in USA) and all other disease with just water and salt.
Several quotes come to mind, but perhaps,to me, this one describes it best.
" All that we are is a result of what we have thought."
Buddha (563 BCE-483 BCE)
We can all change things with positive thoughts.
Very interesting and thought provoking post!
Amen Lisa
LInda
your words are so true, seem ever more true the older I get, the "wiser" I think I am ....the more I think I am wise, the more the universe bursts my balloon and deflates my ego back to a manageable size for a bit and then it happens all over again...I have come to realize after 2 decades of working on self actualization that the work never is done as life always changes and throws new curves to my seemingly straight and fat path...I must be feeding a dozen sandwiches a day at this point!!!!
thanks for the reminder ;)
It's funny that you bring this up now because I have often thought about the negative impact those Sandwiches have on a persons psyche. In Blogland, it is always nice when we have people dole out generous portions of praise upon us for sharing insights from our point of view. But I think it is imperative that we accept the praise with a great deal of gratitude rather than feeding our egos a second helping of chocloate covered ice cream! Pause to smell the Roses....just don't eat 'em. Great post LOL!
wow. amazing piece! so much truth here. so easy to be reactive to all that is going on around you, if you have not taken the time to prepare yourself for what is coming. great words you have written to ponder today!
Absolutely good food for thought..
In the words of the great teacher, Joseph Campbell: "Follow your bliss."
Sometimes it takes us awhile to discover it. :-)
It amuses me to converse with certain specimens that are dead set on being right about everything. I ask them why, and they tell me it's their livelihood. I tell them it is their ego and then they don't want to talk to me.
To be right about everything means you have nothing to learn. You are pretending to be this divine creature and it can make people loathe you.
I try very hard not to feed any sandwiches to my chubby ego, but sometimes I can't help but feel better than the people who pretend to be better than me.
:)
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