Ego is...........

The story of our past that we use to define and identify ourselves.  It is identified with form, whether material, physical or thought.  We allow our thoughts to run rapid in our minds and intensify them with emotion; ultimately sending our egos into the "I" living, instead of "I am".  

Once we understand that form is fleeting, illusive and always changing, we understand that our ego will always search for what it feels is missing inside and when we interact or live in ego we live in fear.  The fear increases and fuels our ego allowing us to live in the negative state of mind.  We will use others, the adage of get them before they get me and ultimately find ourselves in gossip, judgment, and labeling of others (from our own self made story) to lift us or make us superior, if even in our own minds.  Whatever you fight, strengthens and what you resist, persists.  We are so busy trying to feed our egos by rising above others that we tend to overlook what we are creating.  When we try to obtain goals, our egos go into overload and begin criticizing others. 

Undoubtedly when our egos are involved in our goals, we have attached to something illusive and it will change, die, or fade away.  At this time, ego usually takes the victim role and the unhealthy chatter in your head leads again to negativity and unhappiness.  The ego manifests behaviors due to the need to stand out, be right, be special, control, power, to be more than. When you have reactions to others, when they are able to push your buttons, it comes from a place of lack and inevitabely your ego will always be willing to jump in and defend at all costs to you.  

Presence is the only way to free yourself from ego.  Awareness and separation will take you to the point of acknowledging and recognizing when your ego steps in and you will be able to detach and ultimately see ego at work in others.  Remember ego is not personal, for it is fleeting and changing, it is a war within and once you find how to stay in the present moment, since ego and awareness can reside in the same place, ego will step out.  Practicing this will eventually allow spirit to manifest your life in the most amazing way possible.