Ego and Kindness

We all have egos.  We all live in them a lot of the time.  It is not a typical thing to think about.  “Am I in my ego or operating from my high self?”  

Today I was out walking – power walking – when a realization hit me.  It is not unusual for me to get spiritual insights and messages when I am out running or walking but today I was not really even asking for a message.

I might have overheard a conversation, I am not entirely sure.  I was on the beach trail below Lincoln Park in West Seattle.   

I began thinking about listening and communication.  

I thought of conversations where I share something, and the person I am communicating with says something like ‘well yeah!” or “of course” or  “I know”  or “oh yeah”.  

I sadly thought of times when I was a bit rude to others when they told me something new that they just learned and it happened to be something I already knew and my response was something like “Yeah I know”, or “of Course”. or “that information was out several months ago” or something equally as unkind.  

The thoughts made me feel disappointed in myself.  Sad that my ego erupted so often and so easily that I could be hurting people all day long and it happens so smoothly I am not even realizing it.

AND – everyone is doing it.  We are doing it to each other.  It would be so easy to be connected to our High Self instead of ego and probably answer instead with a response like “well that is fun to know” or “wow thank you for sharing that” or “where did you learn that – fantastic information”.  

We each have to learn to respond in a way that feels natural but what is not natural is remembering how to get out of ego when we are in communication.  When ego is present in communication it not only Edges God Out, it Edges Listening Out.  When our ego is driving our conversations we are not listening in the present to those who are speaking WITH – not to – WITH.  A Key concept.  When ego is dominant we are thinking about what WE are going to say next instead of being present in what the other person in the conversation is saying.  

When ego is the dominant communicator we don’t respond with compassion or sometimes not even an answer appropriate to the conversation.  We are so wrapped up in what we want to say we don’t even take the time to listen to what our friend or co-worker is saying.  Ego is the dominant player in most of our lives, or most of the time in our lives.  It takes work to remember to be in High Self or in conscious self, but it can be done!  It can be learned and it is not that hard or time consuming.

4 Steps to Conscious Self Living

1.  Wake up slowly in the morning taking your first 5 minutes to offer gratitude for your sleep, your home, your life, your breath, whatever you feel in your heart to focus gratitude on.  
2. Thank your angels for helping you to focus on Conscious Self today and for giving you signs throughout the day that you are slipping into ego if it happens.
3. Consciously listen when in conversation.  Limit electronic and social media and commit to more time in actual communication with friends, family, partners, spouse.  Spend time reading inspiring articles or books. 
4. Set aside time each day for meditation and/or yoga.  The focus of either or both of these practices connects you deeply to conscious self and leaves less and less room for ego self. 

​Try one at a time for a week if it feels too much to incorporate into your life all at once.  The important piece is to make sure you can make conscious self a normal communication technique, and ego self communication rare.  When you feel yourself slipping away from listening actively, take a deep breath to connect you to source and remember YOU CAN live in conscious self and give EGO a vacation!

For more tips on communication and manifestation please visit www.riverangelranch.com and mention this article for special discounts on readings or coaching.