Distortions of the Ego

I have often seen from the perspective of the neutral observer within me, distortions of the ego. I have seen these distortions arise both in myself and in others. As I stand witness, I observe the ego in action.   It can be both subtle and discrete as well as incredibly convincing to both the self it is attached to and to others who are in relationship to it.  As the observer, the ego appears to be looking at the life journey as a drama through coke bottle lenses.  The ego has no awareness of these trick lenses for its perception is that the lens it looks through is perfectly clear and uniform throughout.  However, the lenses the ego wears distort reality and perception in both directions, past and future. The lens of the present often times remains in a fog.

As the ego looks through its lens into the past it connects with feelings of loss, disappointment, anger, and what could have been.  As the ego looks through its lens into the future it connects with feelings of fear and anxiety.  These feelings can be used as guideposts in our lives to help us identify what lens we are looking through and in what direction we are looking. As we connect with the neutral observer, that part of us we come in contact with through meditation, mindfulness, being in nature, and some forms of yoga, etc. we begin to bring our awareness into the present moment.  It is in the present moment that we can feel free and just be.  Living in the moment has the ability to decrease anxiety and other negative feelings as well as bring enjoyment and peace into our lives.  Why? because we are not experiencing our lives through the filters of the ego, the part of us that judges, comments, criticizes and finds fault in everything.  It is the lenses of the ego that connect us with our thinking mind, the mind that tells stories about the life we are living.

Living in the moment takes practice, especially if we have spent years looking at our lives through the lens of the ego.  We can begin training ourselves to connect with the neutral observer by taking a few minutes each morning simply observing and noticing what is going on within us.  Noticing sensations in the body and thoughts in our mind without telling stories about them or judging them is a start.  Meet yourself as if you are meeting yourself for the very first time, with the curiosity of an explorer.