Many of us find keeping our feelings of "self-worth" or "importance" in line with the instructions of God very difficult. On the one hand, we are told that we are worth more than anything else in all of creation to God. On the other hand, we are also told to humble ourselves and become servants to others. We seemingly are caught in the middle!
Sometimes the Ego is associated with an inflated sense of pride or arrogance. As an example, when we talk about a person who is behaving arrogantly, people often say this person has a "huge Ego".
But it's a lot more than that. It has a definite purpose. It is responsible for organizing the different elements of the Self to create some wholeness and integration. All of us require this to function effectively as human beings.
So how does this fit in with your self-esteem? When we focus too much on this part, we begin to become separated from the rest of humanity, and outside forces have more control over us.
For example, does the quality of your self-image rely on any of the following?
- How much money you have - What you do for a living - Who you know - How you look - Where you live - What kind of car you drive
If you are defined by what you do for a living, then your self-esteem is at the mercy of this factor. So if you lose your job, where does this leave you? Would you still like and respect yourself if you were broke?
It is within your nature to be conditioned to go after these superficial achievements, but I'll let you in on a secret; they have absolutely nothing to do with who you are! You're so much more than your physical body. Your soul is perfect just as it is, and it will continue to live on after you exit the Earth.
All of us are connected by collective consciousness. When you are able to see past the ego, you learn to cultivate true self-reliance. You accept yourself as the perfect being that you are AT THIS VERY MOMENT - not for who you will be once you have had your hair fixed or gotten in with the right crowd.
When you can get past the ego, you experience true self love - and this comes from your higher wisdom. Your knowledge, your compassion, your strength are perfect - and these things are permanent.
I don't know about you, but I'm still working on my humility, praying to be genuinely humble, and trying to trust God to work in my life more each day. I hope you are as well.Cheers
