ego

[vovkaman]

We do what we can to survive - to protect that image we have created of ourselves... the greatest delusion we have ever mastered. And we are so good at it.. But we give ourselves so little credit, and think that we are so incompetent.. of course.. if we keep thinking that we are unable to do anything substantial, how can we ever take

Comments

[__vicki__]

in the life of the spirit we are always in the beginning...its the basics that we aspire to, sometimes we slip up, because of the insecurities, but the progress is measurable, like always being friendly, using humor, focusing on the beauty and depth, forgiving everyone. I just saw the last temptation of Christ with Willem Dafoe - made an impression!

[vovkaman]

I think that just being friendly and nice does not work alone. We need to add deep understanding that we are manifesting this reality every second of our lives. Only then niceness and friendliness becomes genuine.

[lizochka00]

I think the only time one truly takes responsibility for his or her image is when that image correlates to one's inner sense of self; when it doesn't feel like a delusion or a facade for the world, but in fact a reflection of how one sees himself. One cannot protect that which he or she doesn't believe in. Few people are able to live this way all the time, some are able to accomplish this part of the time, but for everyone it is a continuous effort to show oneself to world as he or she wants to be viewed and actually be that individual.

[vovkaman]

The thing is that we do believe our images to be a concrete reality. And we mostly believe the negative ones. Somehow, positivity is something we need to cultivate.

The problem, as I see it, is that we don't believe that we are actually the ones that have created these images for ourselves. We think that this is just the way things are. If we would come this basic understanding - everyone would make an effort to be that individual.

[lizochka00]

The interesting thing is that the negative images we think others perceive are mostly in our own minds. Few people care enough to think about the negative qualities in others, it's just not interesting. We, on the other hand, incessantly dwell on our own flaws.

People who really try to control their image are rarely happy individuals it seems; it's like walking on egg-shells. All we can really do is try to be the individuals who we want to be, which is a life-long struggle, and hope that those whose opinion we value see our evolution.

[__vicki__]

I know what you mean, about genuine niceness... I believe that those who rise above all the stuff that life threw at them, they don't become bitter, or jadded, or unfeeling... they are able to transcend it, so to speak, to forgive yourself for bringing things on or off, forgiving our elders...also knowing your body, what to do or not to do, in order to maintain the spirit on high sober.

[32f]

Слишком много внимания уделяется холению и лелеянию эго (self image, whatever you want to call it). Big ego is easily bruised. By anything. Оно такое обширное, что кажется, что на него все наступают, включая самого себя. Его потом нужно лечить, зализывать на нем раны, восстанавливать внутренний позитивный имидж. А если не получается - начинаются страдания и прочее зло. Чем меньше эго, тем меньше времени оно требует на собственный maintenance. В теории, оно должно быть настолько маленьким (не путать с низким самомнением) атомообразным, что сливаться с стальным населением мира. Then, "we are all one" makes sense. Высвобождается куча времени, to do anything substantial or not so substantial, something.
:)

[1only]

Да, есть такое дело...