Our Thoughts Don’t Belong To Us
Google's definition of ego is “a person's sense of self-esteem or sense of importance”.
When I studied yoga in Costa Rica the lesson about ego stuck with me heavily. There, I learned that ego not only shows up as an inflating feeling of pride but also a deflating feeling. Your ego is the one saying, “I don’t belong here” or “I can’t succeed, I am not nearly smart enough”. We all have this gremlin in our mind that is constantly trying to attach its perception to us. However, although the thoughts come to us, the thoughts are not us and the ego is not always in control.
Our thoughts don't belong to us.
Our thoughts are separate from our being. In fact, we can choose not to accept certain thoughts that do not serve us, similar to setting boundaries with a toxic person. For example, our thoughts can sometimes be like hanging out with a bad friend; a person that is judgemental and does not realize when they are hurting you with their words. When it comes to a friendship, you can make the decision to confront them and let them know that their words are hurtful. When it comes to our ego, it is important to understand that they are not one in the same, similar to how you are seperate from your friend. That is why today we will be naming our ego. We will be officially identifying our ego and giving it a name to make it easier to disassociate from the hurtful things it often tells us. My ego’s name is Laurita. If Laurita talks to me about how I am incapable of writing a good blog post, I tell her she is being a bad friend, that I do not accept her at this moment and that I am writing a good blog about her as we speak. Acknowledging that Laurita is not me and I am not Laurita creates a disconnect which allows for the mind to let go of the attachment of her toxic narrative. Throughout coaching sessions with my clients, we go into much greater work regarding our egos and what we all once tolerated from them. Rejecting and correcting unproductive thoughts will become a habit in your life when you are constantly showing up for yourself and only allowing what you deserve into your mental space. At the end of the day our mind is our roommate for the rest of our life. It's hard to control the mind and it takes a lot of work however it is possible. So now, what are you deciding to name your ego?
I am here for you on this journey and I definitely want to know what you all decide to name your egos :). Thank you all for reading, I appreciate each of you dearly. Love always, Laura.
