Check Your Ego, Amigo

What is your definition of ego? Is it your sense of self? Is it your confidence, cockiness or arrogance level? Is it overcompensation for something? Is it that you feel that you are important or better than others?

I have followed Dr. Wayne Dyer for some time now. He says, “Self-worth comes from one thing – thinking that you are worthy.” Do you agree or disagree?

In an interview with Oprah on her XM Soul Series, he said the following (and I paraphrase):

EGO stands for Edging God Out.  The EGO is a collection of ideas that we carry around to make ourselves feel important.  Those ideas are:

1. I am what I have (things, objects, money)
2. I am what I do (my job, title, accomplishments)
3. I am what other people think of me (my reputation)
4. I’m separate from everybody else (I’m special, I’m different)
5. I’m separate from what is missing in my life
6. I am separate from God

Those are the 6 components of an ego.  That is what we are raised and trained on. We spend a lot of time defending our egos.

These words cracked me wide open.  In the words of Oprah, “it was an aha moment.”  It put so many things into perspective for me and I have never thought about it.  Not only did it put me in check, but also as I observed others I was able to identify ego quickly.

I admit that I was guilty of a few of those on that list.  I’m sure you can agree that you have to.  So stop it! Stop trying to be big and important.  Stop trying to be impressive.

I was able to see when someone’s ego was bruised so they said and did things to feel as if they are in charge or in control.  It gave me the perspective that if we just removed ego from our lives, we could be totally different people.

When was the last time you checked your ego?