What is the Ego?

 by Tina Olivero -

 It’s a really great question.

The earliest definitions of the ego date back to when we lived in survival, hunting and gathering days.  It was said that the ego was a protection mechanism that kept us alive in times of danger and confrontation.  

It was the ego that would protect us and create our identities as human beings – those who needed to live, be superior to other animals, stay away from things that made us ill, dress and keep warm and basically ensure the survival of the body we are in.  The ego is what differentiated us from the spirit.

Sigmund Freud became famous by explaining the ego in psychological terms – the Id, ego and super ego.  Freud explained the ID is the set of uncoordinated instinctual trends and the Super EGO as the part of us that does critical thinking and moralizing of right and wrong, whereas the ego is the organized, realistic part that mediates between the desires of the id and the super ego.

In the 1970′s the definition of the ego was the “macho, cool, self centered, hot guy in school, who thought he was all that.”

Just like people, words evolve and the word ego has evolved to reflect the current level of understanding and consciousness around the world.

For purposes of greater self understanding, the ego is now defined by Tina Olivero as our “Human-ness”  in other words, one part of two – “Human” and “Being”.  

This is the era of duality.  

We now understand Human Being as two distinct entities.  Our human-ness and our being-ness.  Together they make a human being.

HUMAN (EGO)

Our ego selves or  HUMAN personality is what has us make mistakes, take a road of disempowerment, self sabotage, suffer, be resistant, be stubborn, be confined, be confused, be disempowered, be the victim, blame others, feel powerless, take on addictions, relies on physical senses or eyes, ears, smell, touch, and so on.

BEING (HIGHER SELF)

The BEING personality is the opposite of our humaness, thus causing our dual nature.  BEING can be described as our presence, our place of empowerment, positive energy, higher position, evolved or spiritual way, is love, willing, growth, contribution, freedom, self expression, creativity, creates unity and understanding, utilizes unseen senses such as heart, intuition, feelings, etc.

THE DUALITY OF OUR NATURE

The duality of our nature as 1.humans and 2. beings means that human beings have a lot of variation and experience within their personalities.  So much so that it may seem like there’s more than one person in there.  That’s because of our dualistic nature.  

Human beings have the ego and the higher self specifically to create an entire range of emotions, feelings and experiences that make life very interesting.

To play fully on the court of life is to deeply explore both sides of ourselves.  

To understand who we are and who we are not.  And every time we have a clearer understanding or “aha” realization – in that moment we gain access to our higher selves.  

It’s actually the disempowered ego that gives rise to the higher self, our growth and evolution into a more conscious way of “BEING”.

There’s no right or wrong, no good or bad. The ego is an essential part of our “growth” which is required on this learning planet.  Yes that’s right, this is the learning planet and we can either embrace our growth and learning or we can resist it.  

When we resist it…that’s the ego.  

The emotion associated with resistance is suffering – EVERY TIME!

OK now that we understand that, then it’s simply an egoic understanding and awareness that will allow us to surrender that ego and move into the higher self.   It might look like giving up being right or being coachable or being loving or taking the high road or moving out of drama, or taking responsibility for the outcome, or shifting to an empowering view.   

The actual SHIFTING is an experience like no other.  It’s beautiful and when we do it, we realize profoundly that we can find beauty in the toughest of places.  It’s all good.

The quickest way to deal with your ego:

1.  Notice you are disempowered by feelings of anger, dispair, low energy, grief, guilt, jealousy or any other low emotion. 

2.  Ask where is my ego in this and what’s the higher spiritual solution requesting to come in?  Where do I need to take responsibility for this?  Where do I need to surrender my own ego?  Where am I playing small?  Where am I being the victim? What’s the solution here?  What are the range of possibilities? 

3. Knowing that everything that happens in your life is for YOUR growth and learning …. realize, learn, grow and get your AHA transformation. 

4.  See it, GET IT and adapt a new way of living and BEING. 

5.  Experience happiness, freedom, power and full self expression as a direct RESULT of doing this work.

THANK YOU EGO!  WE LOVE YOU!

To learn more about Transformational Training for Personal and Professional Mastery – Please contact: Coach and Seminar Leader, Ms. Tina Olivero at...

transformwithtina.com