Every now and then, we hear someone declare they are going to 'slay' their ego and be for ever free of it's unruly, disruptive tactics. But stop for a moment and consider how ego may be of use.
When we are young and carefree, we think nothing of what makes life happen and how we move through it. Puberty arrives, along with this thing we label 'ego' and wham!, suddenly we start to feel and respond much more acutely - life takes on a certain intensity. Those around teenagers know how difficult these times are to deal with and the human dynamic constantly shifts as all parties try to get by.
Notwithstanding the obvious negative aspects of being a teenager, let's consider the upside of this ego evolution. Underneath the physical transformation, the ego tempts, aggravates and distorts its way into existence, growing in stature and effect, but keeping us safe in its' own way. (Keeping one safe is, of course, to keep safe within one's own learned fears and boundaries, so it's an individual interpretation of safe.) So, the ego provides an independent safety net (especially useful for the individual who may never have felt secure within their family unit) and it does much to assist the very necessary momentum needed to move from being a teenager into an adult. Indeed, it could be said that the strength of that young ego could do much to determine how successful someone becomes as an adult.
Eventually, the time comes when the young adult reaches a time of greater sensitivity and begins to question how appropriate ego still is. What does it have to offer? Is this ego-driven path still appropriate? For those who have a defined ego as part of their blueprint, the enormity of the task of taming 'the beast' becomes apparent and a new phase of life begins.
After many years of questioning what I have read of ego and learned of my own, I've come to the conclusion that instead of trying to dismiss that which has propelled me, I should be grateful and treat it with a certain respect. Yes, I realise that my ego can still lead me down the 'wrong' road (although I don't believe any choice is actually wrong), but if I am simply to accept that it will always be present, like an unruly, mischievous teenager, I at least know what I am dealing with and what to keep an eye out for. So, instead of wasting time rebuking what will always be around me, I will harness the vast energy of my rampant ego and let it pull me along into the work I need to be doing - a sort of energetic husky dog team! Wahoo!
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