The Human Ego and How To See Past It
75Ego In Duality - Is You Vs You?
The Ego Is Dangerous. Learn How To See Past Your Ego!
Welcome reader,
It is apparent that I don't know you from your neighbor, however, I would like to bring you into my world for a little while. I mean that I would like to increase your awareness of your own life. Yeah, I know that sounds strange, but I only say that because it's in reference to character education. If you're not familiar with character education, I've dedicated an entire series of hubs on the topic. You see, I know many people do not know or realize the value of character education and I see it as my part of my purpose in life, to help bring on more awareness.
Who I am is irrelevant, but the message brought to you isn't a myth or a gimmick of some sort and trust, I am not a person who is full of themselves either. Thus, my ego is in check. I am not sure if you can do that or not? Because, I don't know you I have to give you the benefit of the doubt and simply continue writing. However, if you have trouble distinguishing when your ego tends to get in your way, then this hub might be a little too much for you.
The Human Ego...
The Human Ego is one of the most destructive aspects of life. It can put your life in danger. It can turn off women. It can show other people you have no value for other people. It can teach children the wrong way to be.
The ego can just about ruin your life in every aspect of living. The ego of the "alpha" male, yeah, you know the ones, who have more hormones raging than brain cells active. These sort of people are not harmless by any stretch of the imagination and need close supervision, because you never know what they are going to do next.
The ego steps in when people feel confident about what they have experienced and learned, during their life. There is a point where too much becomes a detriment, even to oneself. It must be recognized, before any harm comes to oneself or others. It must been seen and the only way you're going to do it- is by being consciously active in your mindset.
The Human Consciousness and Conscience...
The Human Consciousness and conscience each person has is unique. The consciousness not only makes one aware of their own life, but allows for a unique perspective about other people's life as well.
Each person has a conscience and to the dismay of many people who claim mass murderers have said that they were listening to the conscience when they killed, please save your sob story. You bought into the BS that has controlled the masses for centuries.
If you really want to get serious- your conscience is your moral guide. I find it quite funny when people claim religion has a higher moral guide than that of one's conscience. It's is absurd and absolutely foolish to even compare the two.
How to see past ego?
How to see past ego? Well, be consciously aware that you do not indeed know everything there is to know and the remote possibility does remain that there indeed are people around you that are actually smarter than you.
When you have your conscience tug at you, after you have entered into a conversation, letting you know that you do not have all the facts and are operating on your own individual belief, do realize that your actions are technically morally wrong.
When you use your ego, to inject your belief, into a conversation, and you don't have all the facts, then you're in essence lying. Your ego prevents you from rationalizing it as lying, because you just tell yourself that it's what you believe to be true, even if it's not. You have to consciously recognize your ego's activity, just like your mind and your pride's activity.
In the end, you only do yourself more harm than good, by not minding your ego. Being completely unaware of the damage your ego inflicts is not an excuse. You eat, sleep, breathe and do everything else with a conscious mind. It might be good if you started recognizing it.
Thank you for your time.
Raymond Choiniere II - Cagsil Services Founder
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:) wow, that's alot of hub in 30 minutes!!
Thank you Becca. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :) I appreciate your compliment as well, as I am honored you find it a pleasure to read my writing. :) *humbled before you* :)
@Schoolgirl, that's what happens when you let conscious thoughts just flow. It's invigorating to the mind, because as you write, the images across your mind motivate you to push forward writing, whichever the topic. Thank you for reading it and commenting. :)
I am impressed! I found this while hub hopping and I am going to have to stop now to see your other hubs. You have a new fan!
Thank you schoolmarm. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment. It's also a pleasure to meet you as well. You're more than welcome to read all you like. LOL! Thank you for following me too. :) I'm grateful. :)
Hiya Sir Cags, another super duper hub. You must know a lot of the people I know because you described them perfectly... my ego is in check most of the time (I think). It's good to give some people a good kick in the a** every once in a while... just to give them a reality check.
It's a pleasure to read something that's as straight forward as your writing is.
hope you're well
regards Zsuzsy
Hey Zsuzsy, thank you for the compliment. I know a lot of people and on top of that, I am a people watcher that is always active. I see people using their ego to push other people around. It's in almost everything that happens nowadays. :) I'm grateful for you reading and commenting. It's always a pleasure to see and hear from you. :)
Cagsil,
This is another hub that makes your reader think. I agree that ego can be very destructive if left unchecked by conscience. Conscience is our internal compass and helps us know when we've veered off course.
I also believe it's much easier to recognize the "Ego" in others than in oneself, which is why the practice of human consciousness is so important, especially as it is applied to our own motives, thoughts and beliefs.
Thanks for firing up my brain cells this morning with this well written hub.
Hey Happyboomernurse, you would be correct that it is easier to see someone's ego than to see our own, but being able to recognize our own, will most certainly be helpful. I'm glad you liked the hub and that it fired up your brain cells. :) Thank you for the compliment and reading, as well, as your commenting. :) Much appreciated. :)
Sorry to burst any bubbles, but all judgment is self judgment, and I am a guilty hypocrite, too. I suspect the solution to all of this egomania is to deny the need for identity and just become a conscious entity that desires the truth in all things without the trappings of the pos/neg; good/evil emotionally consumed 'moral' ego.
Hey illeagle, nice to see you and in a way you would be correct. We are to judge ourselves. Thus, self judgment. It is our responsibility to hold ourselves accountable for the things which we do. One should not have to lose their identity as a person, but should be more consciously aware that one's ego can and does get in the way of learning. I'm not sure what "moral" has to do with the ego? Maybe you can explain, but it isn't necessary. Moral issues are tied to moral actions. Anything determined as emotions are amoral, which is neither moral or immoral. Thank you kindly for reading and commenting. Much appreciated. :)
Hope this missive finds you well. I stopped by to read a bit about your thoughts since I did not understand one of your posts. Having read your hub I think you are saying that faith in God is controlled by ego. I must say that true faith, which I am still struggling to find, requires one to lay down their plans for their life and embrace God's plan for life. Rather than being ego centered this is God centered and it requires humility and willingness to submit to a higher authority then ones self...a very difficult thing to do...I can tell you I do not do it well...but I try. God Bless
Thank you Sharon for reading and commenting on my hub. However, I find your comment completely out of place for this particular hub, considering nowhere does the hub mention anything about a "god" of any sort. It does mention religion and it's moral ground, which ironically, I think you conveyed as "god" of some sort.
Actually, I'll be as upfront with you as I possibly can be- if you have a belief in a god, then you are selfish in nature and life. If you're curious 'why' I say that, then I would suggest you better understand your religion. This hub doesn't touch on your religious belief, because it didn't have to, to understand one's ego.
However, since you were nice enough to come to read this hub, I will explain- YOU as a person, form a belief in a god, and hope he/she/it or whatever, will give you an afterlife. This takes away your focus on life and other people. In other words- YOU put YOURSELF before others. That is selfish in nature. There is no higher authority other than self. If you cannot be honest with yourself and hold yourself accountable for your actions, then what good are you to other people? No god is required to understand life, nor is a god required to live life. But, thank you for stopping by.
On a side note- I explained how your religion and it's philosophy was debunked. It's in another hub I wrote with regards to proving the bible false. ;) Good day.
I read that hub already. It was interesting. I take issue with the idea that you know me "as a person". I know what you write, but I am sure there is more to you than this hub page. Give me the same benefit of the doubt. :o)
You take issue with the idea that I know you, as a person? And, what exactly makes you special? That you would make a remark of that manner. Maybe you're not recognizing your own ego, enough to see past it. Or maybe it's a lack of knowledge about understanding humans as a species?
You know what I write? But, are also sure there is more to me than this hub page? :/ How exactly did you reach that conclusion, might I ask? To give you the same benefit of the doubt, would be asking me to dismiss your inability to see your own selfish actions.
However, to answer your response, as to there is more to me than this hub? Well, that would be obvious, considering I've many other hubs also and each one has a piece of me in them. But, there isn't anything in my hubs that other people need to know. Please do try to remember your place in this world and also, there is no need for you to know everything there is to know about me. ;)
I am not sure from this hub of your definition of ego. Everyone has an ego. Every time you use the words I or my you are your ego. Every opinion comes from ego. Your ego is a construct of mind that enables you to function in this world but you are actually not your ego. Every experience we have ever had has gone toward the development of our ego which is basically the sum total of all the opinions we have turned into what we hold to be true. Our belief system is our ego and that is the filter through which we see the world. Without this knowledge everything you say in this hub actually comes from your ego. These are your opinions and beliefs that you hold to be true but you are the only one with your ego. This is a big lesson for everyone to learn and you are no exception.
Thank you again Spirit Whisperer for reading and commenting. The ego is what prevents people from learning more than they have already learned, especially when they solidified their beliefs. People who are too sure of themselves will not budge, and that causes them to no longer learn, which is something else I like to call chosen ignorance. I would have to say that you might be confusing "ego" with "pride"? Those two things are slightly different, but look similar. Everything in this hub doesn't in fact come from ego, but does come from pride in myself, as I've learned to discern wisdom from my experience in life in and of itself. I continue to learn things about people, but I've nothing left to learn about my life. All questions I had about my life have been answered. My beliefs? Are no where in this hub and as for my words being opinions? Okay, sure. Again, I'm grateful for your time. :)
Love the picture! :)
Often I love this type of philosophical thought space.
Today, feel tired and a little dazed.
Thank you Salt for coming by my hub. I appreciate you reading and leaving a comment, so I know you were here. I like the pictures too. :) Hopefully, tomorrow you'll have more energy and won't be dazed. Always nice to see you. :)
I find the hubs very deep.
Useful to those learning.
Although I have found when teaching,
we cannot really use consciousness as a word alone.
As consciousness awareness has level's.
These level's correspond to the 7 layer's of illusion around our soul.
Each layer you pass you will understand.
An example.
Can you see a worlds, aura, every human auric level's pin point of color level of awareness.
All tree's, house, plants, gas's, patches of energy's auric layer's.
This is a layer of consciousness.
It might even coincide with the breaking of the "7" seals.
The "7", being the conscious level's.
I find this useful insight, your hub,
for those learning the first stages of the ego.
I'm pointing out to you about consciousness
as I did not understand this until my spirit guided me through each layer of conscious sight.
I'm teaching, like you are.
Hey Misty, I appreciate you coming to the hub, reading and commenting. However, what you seem to be talking about is something you wouldn't be able to teach. No offense intended, and if you do get upset, then you will have to deal with it on your own, because it isn't something I can help you with. On a side note, there isn't 7 layers of consciousness. If you think there is, then YOU have been deceived/conned into mysticism. Mysticism is all about the spiritual, soul, spirit and it's dishonest. It's about giving people the ideology that there is more than just consciousness and there actually isn't. There would be levels of awareness, but that's not what you comment said. But, thank you.
HAHAHAHA
much said about nothing.
but i loved this part, you said
"When you use your ego, to inject your belief, into a conversation, and you don't have all the facts, then you're in essence lying."
and this is all you do in the forums. :lol: because you have very little fact and much presumption.
Thank you brotheryochanan for reading and commenting. As expected, you have the same audacity to claim I have spread my beliefs around on the forums. You are simply acting out your own ignorance. It is interesting that you even bothered to leave a comment, since you claim this hub has nothing to say, yet many others who have read it, know it's truth. It's a shame you cannot tell the different and refuse to see past yourself for the truth in the words written in this hub.
I for one, don't spread beliefs or opinion, when I talk to people. It was learned many years ago, to not bother getting into a conversation, unless I knew what I was talking about. Unlike you, there isn't any ego in this hub, which is something else you missing. Why don't you go sit in a corner and pout like a good little boy.
You're one of the many people who haunt the forums, trying to support your fake/foolish beliefs, so as to irritate others for your own selfish needs. It's about time you grew up. Good day.
Very good information - more people around me need less ego because that ego gets in the way of making proper decisions. Instead, decisions are based on how the choice will make the decider appear to others.
Well, it definitely made me think, as did the comments above. Not sure I want to go into agree to disagree issues, though. We should put our egos aside in order to know each other and to be of help to our fellow man. I will agree with that - if I interpreted the hub correctly. I am a Christian and do believe that my conscience is guided by God (I guess "religion" from your perspective in the hub). :-) Great hub! Voted up and others. :-)
Thank you Ardie for reading and commenting. There are a lot of people making choices based on ego and it's their ego that hides other choices that are available. That alone makes the ego a dangerous thing, in and of, itself. To get to truth, each of us needs to recognize our ego and see beyond it, because truth isn't about us as individuals, but is about life and existence. In other words, it's about a greater good(purpose). :) Much appreciated. :)
Thank you sholland for reading and commenting. I'm sure many people have the same belief that their conscience is guided by "G/god" and/or "religion's words". I'm not looking for people who are going to agree or disagree, but rather see the truth. Truth is beyond one's own ego, which is one point of this hub and if the truth is recognized within the words of this hub, then one is reading the hub without ego present in the fore-front of conscious thinking. I'm not going to get into the technical aspects of consciousness and conscience, because this hub isn't about that so much. But, I do appreciate you taking the time to read the hub. :)
We do have free will when it comes to our conscience. Some (many youth) do need a moral compass. Without some type of training in childhood, ego can run wild and create a lack of conscience and understanding. For example, feeling entitled just because... I work with many kids with this attitude. I was once reprimanded in a writing class for saying Dr. Spock the child psychologist should be smacked. LOL
Okay, now let's see if I can clear something up- the term "free will" is a religious term, it comes from religion's doctrine. The human will exists and super-cedes the conscience, and it's costs nothing. Thus, making it free.
The human will has the power to override conscience, but the only reason it would override the conscience is due to ego. There's no other rhyme or reason. I will agree that children do need a moral compass to grow because their individual consciousness(self awareness) and conscience isn't developed from the initial birthing process. This is brought to bear upon the parents and their knowledge(including experience), and the wisdom which they have gained to guide the children. If the parents are unable to see beyond themselves(ego) then what they teach children is going to be skewed and incorrect. Thank you again.
Cagsil - you are the voice of reason. This is a lot to think about....I can't just leave a goofy comment, you know? I am still stuck on the part about how when people think they can't learn anything because they know it all....I think I've encountered people like that. They refuse to even give deeper thought to a subject because they have already made their mind up about it! I knew someone once who I say I could have talked to - until I was blue in the face - even show proof of what I was saying and they still would not listen to reason! Oh and the subject was are men and women equal - he said no......now I wonder if he feels all superior eating lunch all by himself??? Hm!
Up and all that!
Thank you Kelly for reading and commenting. I've so far, as of yet, to see you leave a goofy comment. There are some things in which people can be certain of with regards to a topic and have nothing to learn about that topic. This there's no doubt. However, as you said, you were pointing out something he didn't know and wouldn't listen to, which means that he made a broad-based assumption on the knowledge he had accumulated on said topic. And, yes, I am fully aware of people who I could talk to until I'm blue in the face with and they will adamantly tell me I'm wrong, even with solid rational, sane reasons being explained. The fact that any man willing to admit that men and women are not equal shows you pure ego to begin with. They must satisfy their own individual superiority, which is falsely based. Thank you for the vote up also. :)
It's so true.....he did just shut me off....wouldn't hear of it and therefore wouldn't think of ration! Now this guy was religious and he would quote the blue book - ER the bible as reference in point! And we both know no one has ever misinterpreted that before, right?? Lol
Many people are like that Kelly, because they are comfortable with what the "good book" has to say about a topic. Anything that conflicts with it cannot be understood or even fathomed. And, yes plenty of people have misinterpreted that book due to the fact that there are too many metaphors in the parables, which were engulfed in a primitive religious language that's long dead. It funny how people read that book without realizing that it was completely manipulated before it was ever put into print. LOL!
This is very interesting, Ray. I love the way you define ego and how you explain it. I think the most interesting part of ego is the fact that children are egocentric and have little understanding of others' feelings. As people grow older and begin to reach the end of their lives, they tend to return to egocentrism. Great hub! I really liked the clear format and word choice. Voted up, etc.
Great hub... I know way too many people that are taken over by their ego. For me personally, I find that I lack the confidence to sometimes interject my opinion because I dont' feel confident in my knowledge. This is a great topic. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Brittany for reading and commenting. I appreciate the vote up too. :) Always nice to see you. :)
@Barbergirl, there are people who are like you, in the fact that they lack confidence on the topic, yet still get into the conversation and attempt to dominate the conversation. It's their ego on steroids. LOL! Thank you for reading and commenting, as well as your compliment. :)
I love this article! I think I really needed to read this today because I believe I've had some ego issues myself recently....but at least I can admit it right?!? lol. A former low self esteem girl having an ego issue...funny. Thank you for opening my eyes!
Hey Faith, recognizing when the ego is in charge is the most important thing. Everyone is going to have ego issues. Glad you enjoyed the article. :) Thank you for reading and commenting. :)
the human ego is as old as time, religions persecuting "free thinkers" as if they were witches. governments thinking that the world is flat will always hold civilization back. i cannot put any expectations on how someone perceives, i can only "keep my ego in check". i am a good reader of people, only been fooled once or twice....i completely enjoyed your article & fascinated with the mind & how it works. mans ego will be it's downfall...
Thank you laddyjak for the compliment. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment also. I will agree the ego is old. I wouldn't say it's as old as time, but yes I get your meaning. I would also agree that it will be ego that contributes to the downfall of humankind, if people do not learn "how to see past it". Thank you again. :)
I like it,
when I was 15 I had this strange feeling of my self I couldn't explain it, I was scared, because I thought I was going crazy, but after a while I learned it was my consciousness and Idk how to explain it, Its almost like my soul split in tow,One of them was wondering what am I doing, why I am here(inside this body). How did I get inside this body?,and a lot more questions that I couldn't answer. So scary lol and that's when I realized The SO Never ending weaknesses of life. Now am 17 and I can bring that strange feelings back whenever I want to, I tried to explain it to someone, but he thought that I was hallucinating :P
Thank you Phoenix for reading and commenting. I'm grateful.
I absolutely loved it! I think this should be required reading for 20 something men who are still full of testosterone and themselves. Voted up, awesome, and shared.
Thank you Jennifer for reading and commenting. :) I'm grateful for the vote up, awesome and sharing. :)
Well said, Ray.
Awareness is the key for not bringing EGO in our everyday life.
voted up and sharing as well!
Thank you Ruchira for reading and commenting. I appreciate the vote up and sharing. :) I'm really glad you enjoyed it. :)
I always get confused when discussing ego, not knowing whether it is "the Ego" being the whole, or the definition being the id, ego & superego. When tossing in the Buddhist precept for ego, I get even more confused. Isn't ego the 'self' Cagsil?
I appreciate your journey, however I have bookmarked for re-reading when I have more time to ponder. Being a symbolic interactionist the view of 'self' learned, which works for this 'self,' is not that from the view of Freud or his daughter Anna.
Sharing socially, while again appreciating the food for thought.
Hey Tsmog, I guess it would depend on what you learned and where. Ego exists in duality. Therefore there are two parts to it...(a) Ego is about self but more about consciousness which is self awareness and (b) self based on subconsciousness, which is conscience. I am not familiar with the Buddhist precept.
Ego is selfish and Conscience isn't, but is what's right. Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate the kind words.
agree with all that you say except that it is very important to be able to differentiate between ego and self esteem.Very often we are unable to do so and in the process of subduing the ego do away with the core of our personality too which is so essential to survive.So we must have a self image which is positive and yet not let it infringe upon the self images of others unduly.This delicate balance is what you are talking about are you not?
Hey neeleshkulkarni, it's fairly simple to differentiate the ego and self esteem. Self esteem has nothing to do with ego. Self esteem comes from understanding one's own life. It's automatic and ego is put to the side, because Life itself isn't about the individual(not about oneself). It's about living with a higher purpose, which leaves self out of the equation.
One's personality? Well, that is one thing I'm not going to address here, even though I probably could. Simply because you don't subdue the ego. You recognize it, so you can know the difference between what is right for the sake of being right, and what is wrong. Following an ego is self destructive more often than not. History has proven this.
A personality isn't essential for survival either. In a way I am talking about balance of the individual. It's about learning to recognize one's own ego, so conscience can rule instead. The more done for others through one's actions is conscience honesty. The value of life is dependent upon it(conscience honesty). Thank you for reading and commenting.
I did a quick read and like your other hubs, this too was an interesting piece. I think ego develops in relation to the circumstances, society and the lifestyle a person is used to.
I'd like to read it again and maybe discuss it further in a future comment. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you Silverstararrow for reading and commenting. I'm glad you found it interesting.
BeccaHubbardWoods 19 months ago
I love it! I know too many people that fit into the mold you've described here, and what better way to put them in their place than this. Excellent writing by you, Cags. Always a pleasure to read your wisdom! : )