Diminishing the Ego
Oftentimes our ego — our own hangups, prides, and insecurities — is what keeps us from happiness. Some activities are ego-building, others are ego-diminishing.
Just about any accomplishment, the ego takes credit for, building the ego.
I’ve found that the only way to continually diminish my ego and grow is by pursuing what I love. It doesn’t matter what that is, as long as I love it more than myself.
Inevitably this leads to a feeling of brokenness, like when you finally accept that your love is never returning. Tears are shed. It feels like dying without dying. The idea of living on is unthinkable, yet somehow you always do. And that is when growth occurs.
I’m reminded of a quote of Meister Eckhart in the movie Jacob’s Ladder:
The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won’t let go of life, your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away. But they’re not punishing you. They’re freeing your soul. So, if you’re frightened of dying and you’re holding on, you’ll see devils tearing your life away. But if you’ve made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the earth.
We love for a reason. And that reason is to free our own soul.
