Maybe We All Could Use a Little Ego Death!
Let’s talk about the ego!
The ego’s compass is oriented to our survival and to predict things on our behalf, which is a necessary element of the human operating system. Once we put a hand on a hot stove, for example, we know not to pull that move again! However, the automatic impulse of the ego often leads us to misinterpret reality since the ego only references from the past, and then it extrapolates it into the future. This is one of the primary reasons why we share a universal fear around death. Because death is not only an unknown dimension to the ego and thus it has no reference point, the ego also inherently knows that when the body succumbs to death, it goes right along with it. Without our bodies, the ego ceases to exist. So the ego wants us to avoid death at all costs, which drives us to act in ways that are “safe” and familiar.
This is why I’m inviting you to consider a little ego death. While it’s true that we need the ego to exist, many of us have yet to tell the ego to take a back seat from time to time, and allow our conscious awareness to run the show instead of being on automatic pilot. This is the driving force behind my missive: “Transform Your Life Through the Truth About Death.” I wish for us all to develop proficiency—and eventually mastery—to be able to interpret people, situations, and circumstances in a more accurate context so the ego is not telling us what’s real, and thereby cutting off possibility at the knees.
The ego's reliance on past references and future predictions can create a sense of control and safety for us, yet it can also limit our ability to steep in the present moment AND to “be with” the unknown. It’s challenging for us humans to relinquish the need to control how life unfolds, and the need to want to know what lies around the bend. Death being the ultimate unknown—The Great Mystery—can trigger the ego's fear response, leading to anxious thoughts and resistance to the notion of death or anything that exists as an “unknowable. “
By recognizing the ego's role in creating fearful thoughts around death, we can begin to transform these fears by:
Acknowledging the Ego's Limitations: Recognize that the ego's references to the past and predictions for the future are limited and do NOT reflect reality.
Aligning with the Present Moment: Focus on the here and now, rather than getting caught up in fears about the future or regrets about the past.
Exploring the Unknown: Approach death as a mystery to be explored, rather than a threat to be feared.
Cultivating Acceptance: Practice accepting the impermanence of all things, and our attachment to how life “should” look.
Remember, the ego is a natural part of our psyche, but it doesn't have to dictate our relationship with anything—including death. By developing awareness and adopting more expansive perspectives, we can transform fear of any kind. The big fact of the matter is—focusing on the present moment is your ticket to Truth, which is actually where peace resides. The ego cannot interpret a thing when you’re fully attuned to life in the Now, and where there is nothing to fear.
So a little ego death will do us all some good. I’m in! How about you?
It’s a beautiful day to start identifying with your soul rather than your ego!
Aum, aho, aloha, amen—
Gaile Lynn
Transform Your Life Through the Truth About Death
