The Aware Ego Process
The "ego" often gets a bad rap. It’s a collection of those dominant patterns we develop growing up that unconsciously run the show, our lives. These are the ‘voices’ that tell us who we are, what we should be doing, and how we should be feeling.
They're the inner critic that judges our every move, the people-pleaser who craves external validation, or the driven achiever who constantly pushes for more. These primary selves, while sometimes helpful, can also keep us stuck in repetitive cycles, limiting our potential for growth and genuine self-expression.
The Operating Ego: Our Default Setting
Think of the Operating Ego as your personality's "default setting." It's the collection of those primary selves that tend to be in charge most of the time. Common examples include:
The Inner Critic: This voice judges, criticizes, and finds fault, often leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
The People-Pleaser: This part seeks approval and validation from others, often at the expense of their own needs and desires.
The Controller: This self strives for perfection and order, often leading to rigidity and difficulty adapting to change.
While these primary selves can be helpful in certain situations, when they dominate our inner landscape, they can limit our choices and keep us stuck in old patterns.
The Aware Ego: A Catalyst for Change
Now, the Aware Ego is a different beast altogether. It's not a fixed thing, a destination we arrive at, but rather a dynamic and evolving process. Think of it as an energy within us that seeks growth and change, a gentle but persistent nudge towards greater self-awareness. It's the voice that:
Questions our assumptions and challenges our limiting beliefs.
Encourages us to explore new ways of being and step outside our comfort zones.
Prompts us to examine our motivations and understand the underlying fears and desires that drive our actions.
Embracing the Tension of Opposites
The Aware Ego process grows stronger as we venture beyond the familiar territory of our primary selves and explore the uncharted landscapes of our inner world. The more we separate from those dominant patterns the fuller our Aware Ego becomes. It's like gaining the ability to:
Stand in the middle of opposing forces: Holding the tension without collapsing.
Embrace the full spectrum of our being: Integrating the "good" and the "bad," the light and the shadow.
Access a deeper wisdom: Allowing new possibilities to emerge from a more profound place within.
Refining the Operating Ego
Our Operating Ego, with its cast of familiar characters, doesn't disappear. But as the Aware Ego steps in, helping us see and embrace the full spectrum of our being, we begin to refine this system. We learn to:
Appreciate the value of each part, even those we initially judge or dislike.
Integrate the opposing forces within, creating a more harmonious internal landscape.
Make conscious choices that align with our values and aspirations.
The Operating Ego loses its controlling grip, and the Aware Ego process increasingly guides our choices, leading us towards a more authentic and fulfilling life.
