If we listen only to our ego, we are never enough and never will be. The essence of ego is to chatter constantly for that is how it thrives. Ego is not concerned with what choice we make ultimately for as soon as we make a decision, ego considers the choice not chosen and cites consequence after consequence.
The chatter is deafening at times yet it is ego’s duplicity that does it in for at some point, we realize we are caught up in ego’s never ending storyline. Ego is like the pop-ups on our computer screens—drama on demand—our choice is whether to allow or to block.
As humans, our ego pop-up blocker is found in joy, love, gratitude, and compassion where ego dare not tread for within these emotions, we are always enough. There is no need for drama.
Compassion, love, joy and gratitude remind us to be thoughtful in our speech, not to take things personally, to stay present in what we do so we make no assumptions about anyone or anything for when we are mindful, we really are doing the best we can.
Still, some days it seems as if all we ever do is deal with our ego pop-ups. Ego seems to know our vulnerabilities better than we do no matter how hard we try to remain present. Why is that?
Michael Singer says that “reality is just too real for most of us, so we temper it with the mind….” Often, we just avoid those places where ego pop-ups abound or we run rather than facing what is occurring. Other times, rather than blocking the emotional pop-up, we stay with its storyline for it is a drama we know.
It is not for us to cling to our ego drama nor to suppress it. It is for us to acknowledge our ego’s existence:
Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree, intimate friends, the ego and the Self dwell in the same body. The former eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life, while the latter looks on in detachment. Mundaka Upanishad
We are not our ego but we are the one who experiences emotions; we are the one who hears constant chatter. When we allow our ego to block us to our true self, we are not enough. Continuously, we surf screen after screen searching for freedom from our ego. Yet, exist with ego we must.
We are partners with our ego, one emotional pop-up after another. If we view our emotions as passing thoughts, momentary screenshots, we ground ourselves in the eternity that is the life force.
Ours is the compassionate response, grateful for the experience of being, of knowing love and joy. We live as we breathe, inhaling each moment so that we may let it go. We are alive, and it is enough.
KM Huber's Blog 
Yes, Adrian, to enlarge the ego to include all removes the competition,. We open to one another to appreciate what is given and in that, we complete one another. Thank you, Adrian.
Karen
LikeLike
I love the analogy of ego as a pop-ups on our screen of awareness. It reminds me of pop-tarts: “Let go of my ego!” I think of the pop-ups as timed to disappear if we just sit with them. If we don’t react to them–click on them. Also, marketers know that if you don’t respond to their ploys, they stop trying. The more we just sit with ego, it seems the less it pops up. At least, that is what I hope will happen. 🙂
Had a tough ego day yesterday, so your post was a comforting reminder. Thank you. {{{hugs}}} Kozo
LikeLike
“Our screen of awareness” is where I was trying to get with this post, Kozo, and you have given the phrase. As you say, in sitting with our ego is how it demands less for we are content to observe it. Thanks so much, my friend, as now I have yet another way to view ego.
Karen
LikeLike
… our ego pop-up blocker is found in joy, love, gratitude, and compassion …
What a delightful way with words you have, Karen. thank you, once again, for a thoughtful respite from my afternoon.
LikeLike
Thanks, Janet! I believe it was Deepak Chopra where I first read that those four emotions are devoid of ego, although that idea is throughout much spiritual thought. Working with the mind, or ego, is my main occupation of late. Thanks for stopping by and for the kind words about my writing.
Karen
LikeLike
I love the idea of joy, love, gratitude, and compassion as ego pop-up blockers! What a beautiful image! Thank you so much for sharing this. It gives me a good tool to work with when my ego shares its drama on demand storylines with me. 🙂
LikeLike
It has taken me a while to understand the drama demands of ego but when I remember, I am content to sit and watch ego strut its stuff. I think that’s why the image from the Mundaka Upanishad stays with me. The reminder is to sit and observe, experience, and not get caught up in any storyline. Thanks, Kenetha.
Karen
LikeLike
The ego is competitive and it never considers the contest done, never feels that it has, once and for all, been declared a winner. The ego pits us against a unreasonable field of competitors–everyone else. My trick for beating ego is to enlarge it to include the rest of humanity. I win when any one of us wins. I can now root for other writers, other singers. And I recognize that our talents are not created equal. Each of us must settle on a personal definition for winning.
LikeLike