Estimated reading time: 4 min.
Dear reader,
Welcome to the final part of the introduction to Guiding Words: A Mini Playbook to Serenity.
As we get ready for the first lesson, let us define an important but controversial word that will often appear throughout these lessons, the word ego.
What is the ego?
Although there are many definitions, we will limit ourselves to that of the American Psychological Association, which is also the closest to our own understanding of this enigmatic word.
n.
1. the self, particularly the conscious sense of self (Latin, “I”). In its popular and quasi-technical sense, ego refers to all the psychological phenomena and processes that are related to the self and that comprise the individual’s attitudes, values, and concerns.
2. in psychoanalytic theory, the component of the personality that deals with the external world and its practical demands. More specifically, the ego enables the individual to perceive, reason, solve problems, test reality, and adjust the instinctual impulses of the id to the demands of the superego. See also antilibidinal ego; body ego.
From this definition, we will emphasize the part: conscious sense of self (Latin, “I”), and, as these are Words of Art, we will give ourselves permission to use interchangeably the words: mind, reason, I, and ego, whichever one is most suited to our intent of the moment, to refer from different angles to this peculiar phenomenon which is the conscious sense of self.
However, it’s crucial to mention here that even though we agree with the definition of the ego being the conscious sense of self, for our purposes, we will grade the self on two levels: the conscious sense of self that refers to the ego being the lower self, and a Higher Self that is above, beyond, and not tainted by the lower self. We will use the uppercase and lowercase to distinguish between the self and Self.
The Self is a blank piece of paper on which the self writes itself. Eventually, the paper will be filled with words, and those words together will form a story. However, this story will not last long and will soon disappear, making way for new words discovering their own stories. – WoA
Who is Guiding Words for?
- Guiding Words is for those who have deeply suffered – for one reason or another – and are looking for ways to break free from the burden of suffering.
- It is also for those who are eagerly chasing a certain goal, dream, or aspiration, convinced that only by achieving it will they find the happiness, fulfillment, and validation they long for.
Since the ego is at the forefront of our experience of life, it is also the first pathway to suffering.
Does that mean the ego deliberately wants us to suffer? No, it’s actually quite the opposite. The ego only wants the best for us, but just in all the wrong ways.
- When you are hungry, it is the first to suggest getting some fast food because it’s fast and tastes great.
- When someone says something that you feel is offensive, it is the first to defend you with an outburst of rage or tears or blame, anything that can make you feel like you are right, and they are wrong.
- When you feel like you can’t go on any longer, it is the first to console you and tell you it’s OK to give up and that it wasn’t worth it anyway.
Even though its intentions are always good, if left unchecked, the ego’s path only leads to suffering. Cultivating Serenity is thus an exercise in infusing Serenity into the ego and, by doing so, gradually freeing ourselves from its grip.
With this, we conclude the final part of the introduction to Guiding Words: A Mini Playbook to Serenity.
If we are contemplating the path to Serenity, it is likely because we want our future to be profoundly different from our past. And yet, no matter how much time we believe we have ahead, the certainty of death remains present in every moment.
For those who may not reach the end of these lessons—for one reason or another—I still wish to leave them with fundamental principles that can ease their journey toward the end. That is why, without further ado, I invite you to take time to reflect on those last moments as we devote the first three lessons to How to Meet Death with Peace of Mind.
We will explore this by understanding the importance of minimizing regrets, living courageously, and how, in the end, curiosity can lead us to peace.
See you in three days, and until then, may Serenity be upon you.
Didi
Question: After reading this lesson, do you feel like you understand what we refer to when we talk about the ego and how it manifests itself in our lives?
Reply with a yes or no and feel free to go beyond two or three characters.
P.S.: I am trying to find the right words to convey my thoughts in a language that is not mine, so please pardon my mistakes and feel free to reply with any suggestions and/or corrections that can make this reading experience more enjoyable.
