3 steps to befriend your EGO

EGO

- one's sense of self-esteem or self-importance

- the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.

- a conscious thinking subject

Working with and befriending one's ego is a game of balance and identifying real versus perceived threats. At any given time we can have too much or not enough, be in control or be controlled, function from wounding or healing. We can be responding or reacting.

The ego can be like a child in combination with an overly paranoid parent. It chatters, worries, gets louder when you're not listening, and wants to feel safe. The ego takes everything personally and functions from past information - often outdated and not helpful. It's goal is to protect you and keep you safe but it has a hard time integrating new information quickly. This means it reacts from a space of fear based on past events and experiences without considering what may be different now.

The good news is that we can befriend and work with our ego. We can take back control so that we can respond instead of reacting the way we always have.

Three simple steps to befriend your ego:

1. Acknowledge your ego

Be willing to see and hear it.

We have to be willing to see that it's there because the ego can be a lot like a little kid where it's like: "ooooh, but, but, pay attention, pay attention to me" and it's going to keep being very prodding and poking and repetitive and in your face until you give it that attention. So, the simplest first step is to pay attention.

2. Hear it out

Don't judge it, just listen.

What does it have to say? What are it's concerns? What is it worried about? Let it express its fears and why it thinks you aren't safe. What is it basing this from? See if you can find out where these fears are stemming from. Is this something you can shift? What can you do to help alleviate some of these fears? Does the past event/experience the fears are coming from actually relate to the current situation? Can you provide new information that shows how it's different? Spend some time here. Don't rush this step.

3. Send it some love and gratitude

Let it know it can rest as you've got it from here.

Express some gratitude to your ego, thank it for keeping you safe. Thank it for keeping you protected and let it know that it can rest now, you've got this. You're going to take control, it's done its job and you've got it from here.

Join me for a short guided practice to help support you in befriending your ego:

This is an ongoing practice. It's not a one and done thing. The ego has been with you since you were born and will be with you until you leave this life. It will pop up regularly or irregularly, depending on circumstances and your relationship with it. Commit to this ongoing practice of self love and understanding and acknowledging where things are stemming from to maintain balance with your ego in your life.

Take back control. Learn to respond instead of react.

Imagine the possibilities going forward when you make your ego your friend, when you develop positive ego based in knowing your inherent worth, having confidence in your skills, and faith in your abilities. Gifting yourself a life lived your way. Embracing your personal magic and power.

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If you found these tips and practice useful drop me a like or offer a tip. You can also find other guided practices I offer on Insight Timer. Thanks for reading!

~Forbsie