Open Mind, Open Heart discussion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAewR...

Ok, so you can't embed video on Goodreads...now I know! This video is interesting. Those who have read Wayne Dyer have heard some of what's on this clip. Some good advice here on letting go of ego.

Thinking about EGO...I have been thinking how bad it is to have ego. Now I am considering how it is just my individuated self. There is nothing wrong with claiming my own needs. Being selfless is no better than being selfish. There has to be middle ground and that takes some ego. Hmmm....just thinking out loud.

I don't necessarily see ego as a 'bad' thing. I've always had trouble when I hear Wayne Dyer speak about eliminating the Ego. I think it's probably because my definition is different. Human experiences are all unique and freedom of expression are all part of the wonderful world of ego. I think the issue comes more from attachment. Someone once said, "have a mind that's open to everything but attached to nothing." When you attach to things, you lose your center. (Just thinking out loud too!)

Hmmm...that's interesting. I've heard Dyer mention a concept of having an open mind without attachment. It's a hard thing to do. I can be open to new things, ideas, etc..., but it's hard for me to detach from the outcome. Food for thought.

a trip to the dictionary always helps me out ......ego (noun)
a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance : a boost to my ego.
• Psychoanalysis the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.
• an overly high opinion of oneself
i think it's easy to confuse an inflated sense of self with the function of reality check. i've been there myself: the place where "everything is about me." in that place i take everything personally and tend to obsess about things that really lack substance. that is my ego out of balance. a balanced ego takes a broad snapshot of a moment...knows not to assume, and is willing to set aside expectation.

mary anne

Starr wrote: "Hmmm...that's interesting. I've heard Dyer mention a concept of having an open mind without attachment. It's a hard thing to do. I can be open to new things, ideas, etc..., but it's hard for me to..."

He likes to quote one of his teachers, Abraham Maslow, who spoke of detaching yourself from outcome. It's a challenge for me as well, but I'm better than I used to be!

Richard wrote: "Starr wrote: "Hmmm...that's interesting. I've heard Dyer mention a concept of having an open mind without attachment. It's a hard thing to do. I can be open to new things, ideas, etc..., but it's ..."

Me too, but I often wonder whether that's a good thing? You know to be so detached..not caring. I guess it boils down to feeling the pain of loss, or joy at what you have but knowing nothing dodges change and sooner or later we all must let go and let God. Caring more about the outcome than the moment causes a detachment from the present moment. Hmmmm...thinking out loud again and probably way off topic from ego! Though I have to admit that I can see how ego could get you off course and make you unable to let go.

Oh, and Mary thanks for the trip back to the dictionary! I thought I was the only one who did that!

It can't be possible to be completely EGO-less, can it? Surely it serves SOME purpose....

Peni wrote: "It can't be possible to be completely EGO-less, can it? Surely it serves SOME purpose...."

You know I think EGO gets tangled with modern perceptions of self-esteem. Some how there's this thought that self-esteem is believing you are better, different, unique and utterly the best thing since sliced bread. When really, I think healthy self-esteem is accepting your faults and being willing to ride the waves of your own imperfection with kindness and laughter.

EGO separates us from our own awareness of who we truly are. It's OK to believe you are good and kind, but not if it means you are only being "good" to satisfy how others preceive you to be. EGO, from what I've read, is that little voice that says you have to be better than someone else, not equal to. It's that voice that says status and building a name for yourself is more important than how you're building that name. In small doses ego may help you realize some ambitions, but if unchecked, I feel it leads you away from your true self. Just a thought....I hope that didn't sound preachy!! I just got on a roll!

I read recently the reason why we may only have 23 chromosomes rather than 24 like chimpanzees and apes, is that two were fused into one. Therefore, many scientists do believe we evolved from primates. This gets me thinking, perhaps Ego, like that 24th chromosome has served a purpose, but is on it's way to becoming obsolete. Perhaps humanity is coming to a fork in the road or new fusion.

Great thought, Richard. Who knows how much more of our brains we would truly begin using if we got over ourselves enough to explore our inner workings!