Seven Steps for Overcoming Ego’s Hold on You

[Guest guest]

1. Stop being offended. The behavior of others isn’t a reason to be

immobilized. That which offends you only weakens you. If you’re looking for

occasions to be offended, you’ll find them at every turn. This is your ego at

work convincing you that the world shouldn't be the way it is. But you can

become an appreciator of life and match up with the universal Spirit of

Creation. You can’t reach the power of intention by being offended. By all

means, act to eradicate the horrors of the world, which emanate from massive

ego identification, but stay in peace. As A Course in Miracles reminds us:

Peace is of God, you who are part of God are not at home except in his peace.

Being is of God, you who are part of God are not at home except in his peace.

Being offended creates the same destructive energy that offended you in the

first place and leads to attack, counterattack, and war.

2. Let go of your need to win. Ego loves to divide us up into winners and

losers. The pursuit of winning is a surefire means to avoid conscious contact

with intention. Why? Because ultimately, winning is impossible all of the time.

Someone out there will be faster, luckier, younger, stronger, and smarter-and

back you’ll go to feeling worthless and insignificant.

You’re not your winnings or your victories. You may enjoy competing, and have

fun in a world where winning is everything, but you don’t have to be there in

your thoughts. There are no losers in a world where we all share the same

energy source. All you can say on a given day is that you performed at a

certain level in comparison to the levels of others on that day. But today is

another day, with other competitors and new circumstances to consider. You’re

still the infinite presence in a body that’s another day (or decade) older. Let

go of needing to win by not agreeing that the opposite of winning is losing.

That’s ego’s fear. If your body isn’t performing in a winning fashion on this

day, it simply doesn’t matter when you aren’t identifying exclusively with your

ego. Be the observer, noticing and enjoying it all without needing to win a

trophy. Be at peace, and match up with the energy of intention. And ironically,

although you’ll hardly notice it, more of those victories will

show up in your life as you pursue them less.

3. Let go of your need to be right. Ego is the source of a lot of conflict

and dissension because it pushes you in the direction of making other people

wrong. When you’re hostile, you’ve disconnected from the power of intention.

The creative Spirit is kind, loving, and receptive; and free of anger,

resentment, or bitterness. Letting go of your need to be right in your

discussions and relationships is like saying to ego, I’m not a slave to you. I

want to embrace kindness, and I reject your need to be right. In fact, I’m

going to offer this person a chance to feel better by saying that she’s right,

and thank her for pointing me in the direction of truth.

When you let go of the need to be right, you’re able to strengthen your

connection to the power of intention. But keep in mind that ego is a determined

combatant. I’ve seen people end otherwise beautiful relationships by sticking to

their need to be right. I urge you to let go of this ego-driven need to be right

by stopping yourself in the middle of an argument and asking yourself, Do I want

to be right or be happy? When you choose the happy, loving, spiritual mood, your

connection to intention is strengthened. These moments ultimately expand your

new connection to the power of intention. The universal Source will begin to

collaborate with you in creating the life you were intended to live.

4. Let go of your need to be superior. True nobility isn’t about being

better than someone else. It’s about being better than you used to be. Stay

focused on your growth, with a constant awareness that no one on this planet is

any better than anyone else. We all emanate from the same creative life force.

We all have a mission to realize our intended essence; all that we need to

fulfill our destiny is available to us. None of this is possible when you see

yourself as superior to others. It’s an old saw, but nonetheless true: we are

all equal in the eyes of God. Let go of your need to feel superior by seeing

the unfolding of God in everyone. Don’t assess others on the basis of their

appearance, achievements, possessions, and other indices of ego. When you

project feelings of superiority that’s what you get back, leading to

resentments and ultimately hostile feelings. These feelings become the vehicle

that takes you farther away from intention. A

Course in Miracles addresses this need to be special and superior: Special ness

always makes comparisons. It is established by a lack seen in another, and

maintained by searching for, and keeping clear in sight, all lacks it can

perceive.

5. Let go of your need to have more. The mantra of ego is more. It’s never

satisfied. No matter how much you achieve or acquire, your ego will insist that

it isn’t enough. You’ll find yourself in a perpetual state of striving, and

eliminate the possibility of ever arriving. Yet in reality you’ve already

arrived, and how you choose to use this present moment of your life is your

choice. Ironically, when you stop needing more, more of what you desire seems

to arrive in your life. Since you’re detached from the need for it, you find it

easier to pass it along to others, because you realize how little you need in

order to be satisfied and at peace.

The universal Source is content with itself, constantly expanding and creating

new life, never trying to hold on to its creations for its own selfish means.

It creates and lets go. As you let go of ego’s need to have more, you unify

with that Source. You create, attract to yourself, and let it go, never

demanding that more come your way. As an appreciator of all that shows up, you

learn the powerful lesson St.Francis of Assisi taught:”…it is in giving that we

receive.” By allowing abundance to flow to and through you, you match up with

your Source and guarantee that this energy will continue to flow.

6. Let go of identifying yourself on the basis of your achievements.- This

may be a difficult concept if you think you are your achievements. God writes

all the music, God sings all the songs, God builds all the buildings, God is

the source of all your achievements. I can hear your ego loudly protesting.

Nevertheless, stay tuned to this idea. All emanates from Source! You and that

Source are one! You’re not this body and its accomplishments. You are the

observer. Notice it all; and be grateful for the abilities you’ve accumulated.

But give all the credit to the power of intention, which brought you into

existence and which you’re a materialized part of. The less you need to take

credit for your achievements and the more connected you stay to the seven faces

of intention, the more you’re free to achieve, and the more will show up for

you. It’s when you attach yourself to those achievements and believe that you

alone are doing all of those things that

you leave the peace and the gratitude of your Source.

7. Let go of your reputation.- Your reputation is not located in you. It

resides in the minds of others. Therefore, you have no control over it at all.

If you speak to 30 people, you will have 30 reputations. Connecting to

intention means listening to your heart and conducting yourself based on what

your inner voice tells you is your purpose here. If you’re overly concerned

with how you’re going to be perceived by everyone, then you’ve disconnected

yourself from intention and allowed the opinions of others to guide you. This

is your ego at work. It’s an illusion that stands between you and the power of

intention. There’s nothing you can’t do, unless you disconnect from the power

source and become convinced that your purpose is to prove to others how

masterful and superior you are and spend your energy attempting to win a giant

reputation among other egos. Do what you do because your inner voice always

connected to and grateful to your Source-so

directs you. Stay on purpose, detach from outcome, and take responsibility for

what does reside in you: your character. Leave your reputation for others to

debate; it has nothing to do with you. Or as a book title says: What You Think

of Me Is None of My Business!May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His

grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us

all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.Sai

bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

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