--- Ego, Patterns, & Core Issues - Copious Thoughts - From Clayboyn's Coffee and Philosophy show Ep. 67 ---

Giddiest of ups to all who joined us for @clayboyn 's Coffee and Philosophy. on the much loved MSP Waves and P.A.L Discord Network. The recording of this particular show can be found here: Coffee and Philosophy Ep. 67.

Ego

The topic of the day was ego, and the perceived notion of it being both good and bad, but much like a variety of things us humans interact with, it really depends on how we use it.

Much like a car, hammer or almost anything else, ego can be used as a tool to build and create, or ego can be wielded as a weapon to destroy and hurt.

Tools or Weapons?

When we observe behaviors of other people we often find ourselves able to make certain judgments based on the interaction. This person is 'good' or 'bad', that person is 'nice' or 'mean', we can even shift these understandings dependent on a persons situation, mood, time of day and much more.

Simply put we are designed to notice patterns in our reality, we find patterns emerging in others, however, this task can become more difficult when we try and apply the same principals to ourselves.

It takes a particular degree self awareness to notice when we ourselves are being destructive.... particularly when high emotional content is involved.

Scooby

Our concepts of love are a good example of this, heavily influenced by media, television, social/societal norms, etc. We can find ourselves in situations which are not to our liking.

Be it through pedestaling others through to compromising ourselves, there are a number of means by which we can 'fool ourselves' into relationships. Fundamentally we accept what does not align with our congruent self and sense of autonomy.

When this all breaks down we blame the others involved, this can also apply to other elements of our lives such as work, friendships , family, ect.

But how often do we take responsibility of our own actions? of even getting involved in the first place ? How many of us can admit that we have entered a situation knowing it was not right for us ? most of the time it is in hind sight which is 20/20... but the data was there all along.

Patterns

Recognizing the our own patterns, as well as patterns in others, is a key element of having the awareness to be able to make decisions which best suite our wants and needs beyond the surface value.

This path to a better sense of self awareness can mean confronting core issues, past traumas and particular tendencies. Which can mean not only defeating the demons within us, but also dissecting them to see what they have been feeding on.

Once we have this information we have a means of applying interventions when we are gravitating towards what is not desired.

Demons

How we do this is entirely dependent on the individual, some of the examples can include, but are not limited to, mediation, deep thought, sensory deprivation tanks, psychedelics, interacting with nature, soul searching, lucid dreaming.

This represents the concept that the answers we seek lay within us, its is only a matter of seeking the self, asking the questions and paying attention to the answers.

What is certain is that if we continue to try and force a square peg into a round hole, we only end up damaging both the hole and the peg.

Square Peg, Round Hole