The ego is like a brick wall that stands between us and other people. It is made of "I am" blocks:
I am smart
I am funny
I am fat/thin/tall/short
I am pretty/ugly
I am a good writer
I am a terrible skier
It is easy to see how the wall can easily get too high to peer over. Authentic connection is impossible for people who are standing on either side of a brick wall, let alone two brick walls.
Some relationships exist to serve as mortar for the "I am" bricks that make up our ego. I associate with certain people because they remind me that I am funny, smart, pretty, etc. They confirm my perception of self. In turn, I do the same for them. That is the social contract. But I have to ask: Does it help me live more authentically in the moment? Does it nourish my soul?
It is possible to chip away at the mortar and poke holes in the brick walls of our egos. I have seen it done. It's scary. What if the whole wall comes tumbling down? Who will I be then?
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