How to Let Go of Ego
We all have one, that thing deep within that constantly begs to be satisfied. It is our ego, that place that houses our sense of self-esteem and self-importance. While recognizing our own ego’s role in situations can be great, the act of its existence can really hinder our ability to live a happy and healthy life.
“We must go beyond the constant clamor of ego, beyond the tools of logic and reason, to the still, calm place within us: the realm of the soul.” – Deepak Chopra
Our egos get in the way a lot over the course of our daily lives. Say for instance you make a mistake at work, if your ego is rearing its ugly head, you may be less likely to admit your mistake possibly even pushing blame off on someone or something else. If you find yourself in a fight with a loved one and are listening to your ego you may lash out or create more trouble than you intend to by simply coming from a space of blame versus ownership.
Relying on our ego is a protective mechanism we use to preserve our sense of self, when in fact a little self-acceptance can be the ultimate way to put an end to the vicious ego driven cycle that exists within many of us.
So what if you could take a few steps to lessen the ego in order to create more powerful relationships and situations within your life? It may seem difficult at first, but with a little practice you can find an easier way to build happier, healthier relationships within yourself and with others. Joseph Campbell stated, “How to get rid of ego as dictator and turn it into messenger and servant and scout, to be in your service, is the trick.” So how can you stop the nature of your ego and turn it into the messenger that brings good and positive change? Take a look below for a few ways to let go of your ego.
To let go of your ego, let go of the need to win.
Knowing that your ego is constantly seeking to win, it can be easy to lessen the effects by knowing that it is not always necessary to win. When you approach a situation from a standpoint of needing to win, be it in a relationship or a business setting, you are setting yourself up for loss. Why not instead try to come from a place of understanding first.
Let go of the need to be right.
Much like winning, the need to be right is strongly driven by the ego, but letting go of this need can make way for more open discussions in and around your life. Being open to discussions of right and wrong can be a great way to not only lessen the ego but to also grow as an individual.
Let go of your need to control your reputation.
Your ego will always want everyone to have a positive view of you, however, you can not control what people think of you. Letting go of this need to control your reputation will allow you to enter into every interaction as openly as possible.
Let go of living life based on achievements.
The things you do, do not equate to who you are, they are simply things. They also do not make you better or worse than others. Keeping this in mind can be a great way to celebrate your accomplishments without making them the basis for your existence.
As you begin to allow yourself to let go of these things, you will open doors to living a life with kindness, compassion and intention. Living with these qualities in abundance will have great effects on your overall daily levels of happiness and satisfaction. You will find more satisfying relationships, better interactions with individuals you encounter and a general sense of ease. While your ego is not a bad thing, it helps to keep you safe in some situations, allowing your ego to play less of a role in your day to day life will surely bring more abundance into your life.
Written by : BaliSpirit