Welcome back to my corner of the wellness internet; today I want to share some insight onto a topic that isn’t discussed too often but has meaningful impact on our daily lives. Have you ever thought to yourself, “I should know how to do this… or why am I not further along… maybe even, I am not doing this I already know it…” Rest assured we have all had similar thoughts. The human ego is fascinating but when it is overactive it can be harmful. Let’s dive further in to letting go of the human ego to enhance well-being.

Understand The Human Ego

Before we jump forward we need to understand this complex idea of what the human ego is and how an overactive ego can be limiting.

What is the human ego:

“The ego is the psychological component of the personality that is represented by our conscious decision-making process. The id is the instinctual, biological component , and the superego is the social component of our personality and conscience . Our behavior is determined by the interaction of these three components.” – Google

Human ego is meant to protect our sense of self, but in the same light it can manifest itself in other ways that create internal conflicts and limitations. Common ways that ego come up in daily life is “fear of failure, defensiveness, condescension, etc…”

Emotional and Physical Impacts

We often find our mind is turning with the constant thoughts and worries of the day. I like to think of someone who suffers from people pleasing. If we are in constant worry if people like us we are constantly on the defense of being small, watching what we say, do, just to not “bother” someone. This can be emotionally draining. The same goes for an overactive ego.

The physical impact of an overactive ego can be thought about in two fold. When we are constantly on edge on the defense, there is this never ending tension, which can lead to headaches, or other stress-related conditions. However I also want to shed insight on the limitations that might hold you back because of the idea of not knowing or not being as good as someone else.

Take a moment to think about the first time you attended a yoga class or went to a new gym, or any other physical activity class. Odds are there was someone better than you in the class. This idea for an overactive ego can be crippling, so we don’t even attend the class or try something new. These limitations can hold us back from reaching out full potential and take away a moment for growth.

The Benefits of Letting Go

So what would happen if we learned to let go? If we decided to make the decision to not listen to that self protecting voice in our head take over imagine what clarity we would have. Look 95% of our thoughts are subconscious, which is an overwhelming amount I know. However, if we can train our brain to find a sense of ease, (yes, we can train our brains) we can also learn to pick which thoughts are serving and which to let go of.

Now I want to shift to emotional resilience when it comes to letting go of the ego. Again I want to take us back to the thoughts that are sparked by “self-protection”. Often times these thoughts either come from a negative self-talk tone or a defensive tone to protect ourselves from someone. When we make it a point to detach from the ego we create more room for exploration, curiosity, and compassion. We are open to trying new things without talking ourselves out of it.

Self Protection

Can you think of a time when you were having a conversation with someone and their tone was either defensive or a level of condescension. Odds are they were feeling uncomfortable in the moment which led them to get reactive. I know that I have been guilty in my youth for snapping back with what society would call a “flex” because I was feeling less than the person in front of me, so I felt that I needed to compensate. If we let go of the ego this too can allow a space of growth, a space to learn from someone else.

When we let go of the human ego this can create an emotional balance.

So How Do We Let Go?

The answer is simpler than you think, however it is not easy. Mindfulness and meditations are great way to learn how to let go of the ego. Remember when I mentioned above that we can retrain the brain, well it is true. When we are practicing mindfulness we are actually rewiring the brain to work in our favor.

Mindfulness Is Key

Mindfulness and meditation are powerful tools to use when we are trying to quiet the ego. By focusing on the present moment and becoming an impartial observer of our thoughts, we can create distance between ourselves and the ego-driven stories that we often tell ourselves. When we practice formal meditation it helps us recognize these thoughts as temporary, and not truths about ourselves.

Just like any muscle, when we continue to train our brain it becomes more aware of when the human ego is present, allowing us to be more intentional with our actions.

Related Content: What is Mindfulness

Self-Awareness

Accompanying mindfulness; self awareness through reflection is another insightful tool to notice when the ego is present. When we take time to reflect over our thoughts during mindfulness activities you will notice which thoughts and behaviors can reveal patterns and how we react. As we continue to intentionally become aware of when the ego is leading without judgement, we can learn to detach from the idea and respond in a way that is more aligned with who you are as a person.

Embrace The Vulnerability

We are starting to understand that vulnerability is powerful, well in this case it is not different. The human ego tends to lead us from a self protecting view so we don’t feel inadequate, or fear of failure. As well as towards a more facade of strength, power, and control. When we let go of this idea of being perfect and embracing that our limitations, faults, missteps, and failures are all part of the human experience. Vulnerability opens the door to unlimited growth and learning opportunities to better ourselves.

Gratitude For Our Attitude

The last powerful tool is gratitude. This word gratitude was a buzzword for a long time and I will be honest, I never truly understood the actual concept around the idea. Gratitude is a powerful shift in mindset from focusing on what we lack to what we actually have. When we do come from this place of gratitude and humility we foster more fulfillment and contentment with our lives.

When It All Comes Together

The success that comes from when we redefine how we lead our life that is detached from power, wealth, control, status, and instead focuses on joy, purpose, and well-being you can imagine the freedom that it brings. You will find that deeper connections with other’s will emerge and new paths will be built towards personal growth that is embedded with self compassion.

Where to start?

We covered a lot today about letting go of the human ego to enhance well-being, but I encourage you to start small. Start with going to a mindful movement class, or a meditation session and reflect on your thoughts afterward. You will start to see patterns and when the ego wants to lead. If you have any questions or insights please reach out via my Patreon!