| Spiritual awakening is the process by which we shed | | | | shows that you have identified with your anger - the |
| our false dysfunctional ego and allow our true selves | | | | ego and you are one. Someone attacked your |
| to run our lives. We glorify God by becoming who He | | | | dysfunctional ego, so you are angry. |
| made us to be. The beginning of this process is for | | | | Another way keeps us in a better position, and |
| us to have a shift in consciousness. There has to be | | | | begins to pry the ego's coils from around our soul, |
| a realization, either sudden or gradual, that our | | | | allowing the power of God to begin to flow back |
| behavior and thoughts are not really soul-based (our | | | | through our true self. In this approach we would |
| true selves), but are mind-based (ego-oriented). At | | | | begin by writing, "I felt anger because so-and-so said |
| some point we come to realize that we are | | | | this to me." We have now placed the anger out in |
| discontented, unsettled, and "not our self." Or we | | | | front of our self where it can be examined more |
| may feel that we are "beside our self." With this | | | | carefully. We will soon discover that our dysfunctional |
| feeling there is often a sudden awareness that there | | | | ego was injured by the incident, not our true self. As |
| are actually two entities struggling for control of our | | | | soon as we realize this, the anger dissipates because |
| consciousness. | | | | it's exposed for what it really is. It can't stand against |
| Or we may feel that we are "beside our self." With | | | | the light of truth. Our true self can't be harmed by |
| this feeling there is often a sudden awareness that | | | | the words fired at us from another person's ego |
| there are actually two entities struggling for control | | | | (remember that their true self would never say such |
| of our consciousness. This is the time when we may | | | | a thing!). We realize that the incident was an |
| recognize that we have been under the influence of | | | | ego-to-ego exchange, that the other person's ego |
| an egoic mind (the dysfunctional ego) and we need | | | | was protecting itself by trying to diminish our ego. |
| to break free. We understand that there needs to | | | | The true selves of the people weren't even involved. |
| be a separation of our self from our thought | | | | So, here is the subtle, yet all-important difference: |
| processes. we need to disidentify with the mind. The | | | | - "I feel anger;" versus "I am angry." |
| goal isn't to get rid of the thinking mind, but to put it | | | | - "I feel frustrated;" versus "I am frustrated." |
| back into its proper position relative to the soul. The | | | | - "I feel fear;" versus "I am afraid." |
| mind is a wonderful tool for us to use, but | | | | Separating ourselves from our ego is ego awareness. |
| sometimes we let it take over our decisions for us. | | | | This will allow us to have more compassion for our |
| Realizing that there needs to be a split between mind | | | | self, and for the other person who may be totally |
| and soul is sometimes referred to as ego awareness. | | | | unaware that his or her dysfunctional ego is in control |
| This doesn't mean we stop using our minds, but we | | | | of him or her. Incidents of the day that used to really |
| begin to use them in the right way. Being aware of | | | | upset us can now be an opportunity for further |
| what is happening when we come under the | | | | learning and spiritual growth. These incidents are no |
| influence of the ego-mind is one of the biggest steps | | | | longer assaults, but gifts! They teach us more about |
| in taming it. With a little practice, we can see and feel | | | | our self and our dysfunctional ego that's now on the |
| when the dysfunctional ego moves in. What are | | | | way to dissolving. Don't resist them or renounce |
| some of the symptoms of its impending approach? | | | | them, just observe them. This begins the process of |
| Any of the following could be a sign that our true | | | | reclaiming our soul, our connection with God. |
| self, the self that is connected with God, is being | | | | As you practice this technique, eventually you will get |
| threatened:o Fearo Worryo Angero Guilto Shameo | | | | better at it and be able to create ego awareness |
| Prejudiceo Biaso Lusto Greedo Confusiono Envyo | | | | closer and closer to each and every moment. You |
| Hatredo Gossipo Anxiousnesso Irritationo | | | | won't need to wait until the end of the day to realize |
| Restlessness | | | | that the feelings that have arisen in you are the |
| Any behavior that diminishes us, other people, | | | | result of a wounded ego, and not your true self. |
| creatures, nature or property is probably a strong | | | | Eventually you catch the ego before it has a chance |
| indication of the presence of a dysfunctional ego. | | | | to act. |
| Because our dysfunctional ego isn't really part of our | | | | Rarely in life, except in emergencies, do we have to |
| true self, we can gain an advantage over it by | | | | respond as quickly as we think we must. There is |
| recognizing it as being separate from us. We can | | | | usually time to think before we respond. But cultural |
| begin to distance ourselves from it by observing, in | | | | conditioning often demands an immediate response in |
| the moment, how we're feeling, how we're behaving, | | | | many situations. Pausing to think and craft an |
| how we're reacting to other persons or situations. To | | | | appropriate response is generally viewed poorly and |
| begin to create this separation from our ego, we can | | | | as a sign of dullness or a product of low intelligence, |
| ask ourselves questions such as: | | | | or of being unprepared in a fast-paced society. "Time |
| - "Why did I say that?" | | | | is money," "If you snooze, you lose," and other |
| - "What am I feeling about that right now?" | | | | slogans remind us not to waste time, even a |
| - "How would I describe what just happened to me?" | | | | moment, or you'll get behind and start to lose ground. |
| These and similar self-examining questions help us to | | | | But this is short-term thinking, invented by egos, the |
| begin to separate ourselves from our dysfunctional | | | | kind of thinking that often gets us into big trouble. |
| ego. Our true selves would not have behaved poorly, | | | | The truth is that if we take more time up front than |
| but while we're under the spell and control of the | | | | the "fast thinker," the person who is good at |
| ego, we behaved in a way that will either protect our | | | | "thinking on their feet," we end up better off in the |
| ego from threats or will help our own ego grow and | | | | long run. Taking time to process and make good |
| thrive. | | | | decisions creates fewer mistakes, strengthens |
| So to break free we begin to separate ourselves | | | | relationships, and generally improves the quality of life. |
| (the 'observer') from the feeling or action (the | | | | Pausing pays off in many ways! The soul is not in a |
| 'observed'). When we first practice this technique, we | | | | hurry. The ego is in a race. |
| may not be able to remember to ask these | | | | It's only through awareness, and not just thinking, |
| reflective questions of ourselves until later. We may | | | | that we come to learn the difference between fact |
| have to begin by taking some time at the end of the | | | | and illusion. Illusions belong to our ego and not to the |
| day to reflect on the events of the day. This can | | | | real self. Illusions will diminish when we bring them into |
| help us to begin developing the skill of being an | | | | the light of awareness, the light of truth. Once we |
| observer of our own feelings and reactions. Journaling | | | | have space between our true self and illusions, we |
| is one good way to do this. | | | | will be able to respond appropriately to the situation |
| Perhaps something happened during the day to make | | | | at hand. |
| you feel slighted or angry. There are a couple of | | | | Other Spiritual Postures used in Spiritual Awakening |
| ways to reflect on the incident. The first begins with | | | | that will be discussed in upcoming articles. |
| writing the phrase in your journal, "I was angry | | | | (c) 2010 Daniel D. |
| because so-and-so said this to me." This approach | | | | |