Much of the content of the ego has been repressed into largely unconscious form, manifesting as distorted thinking patterns. The ego uses these distorted thinking patterns to deceive us into believing that we are totally subject to the choppy seas of outer events, helpless victims, unable to control our experiences. (*) The injured ego is constantly trying to convince us, in the name of our own survival, to go along with the illusion that it's a cut throat and evil world populated by evil people out to control us in order to assure their own survival. As it turns out, it isn't really "our" survival the ego is interested in as much as it's own. Because we identify with the ego as who we are, we go willingly and without question.

The ego has no power of its own. It survives by commanding our attention with fear messages and then getting us to go with them. Remember our discussion about the huge significance of what we give our attention to? Our subconscious takes as an order that which we focus upon. The name of the game for the ego is separation. Its survival depends upon it. It has a bundle of clever tools at its disposal to assure that we remain focused away from love and unity. It doesn't want us to realize our own competence, worthiness and power. It doesn't want us to know love; and most of all, it doesn't want us to realize our eternal - infinite aspect. It's always trying to convince us of our inadequacy and unworthiness. When we desire more, it often tells us, "Wait a minute; you can't do or have that. You're undeserving and incapable. You've always failed at everything you've tried. Who do you think you are anyway?" (*) Not only does it tell us how powerless and dependent we are, it also tries to keep us separated by constantly convincing us to be wary of relationships with others. It tries to keep us fearful, jealous and resentful of others. When we play along with this, we become more isolated and inclined to believe that Truth is, indeed, as our ego presents it. In that way, we support it and give it even greater power.

I hope you didn't miss the opening sentence of the previous paragraph. I wish to emphasize this. The ego has no power of its own! As we talk about the deceptive methods of the ego, I don't want you to conceive of it as a devious power beyond your control, working by itself to defeat you. Nothing could be further from the truth. You are in total control simply by virtue of choosing to go with the ego or not. This will become more clear.

Identifying with the many frightening thoughts of the ego, we submit to it. When this is the case, we're not in control of our lives. Our ego has us entranced. Out of ignorance, we allow it to control us. (*) Fear can only be toward things such as conditions and circumstances of the "outer" world (including other people). So this is where the ego keeps our attention--upon outer events. It presents to us pictures of impending doom about our finances, our work, our relationships, our health and on and on. And as we are captivated by these pictures, we indulge in worry, anger, anxiety, fear, frustration and resentment. It has us convinced that all power is in outer conditions. THIS IS THE GREAT ILLUSION. (*)(*)(*)

As we will learn, outer events are "effect, not cause". The fear images are really just thoughts, though they are highly energized with the emotion of fear. And when I said that we were meant to create with our mind--well guess what. You are creating all of the things that these thoughts are comprised of. (*) If it is fear that keeps us from love, then, in order to come back to a state of harmony, we need to forego the deceptions of the ego and turn our focus to our Higher Selves where love is. Sometimes one hears that what we need to do is shed our ego but all we really need to do is turn our focus from it. That may not sound so easy in the face of fear. But the way the Universe operates, there is a pair of Principles we can utilize that works to bring us out of fear and cause a shift in the situation.

What I'm referring to are the Principles of gratitude and giving. Expressing gratitude changes our energy to a higher vibrational level bringing a shift in the circumstances that is more desirable. The same goes for giving. I'm not really talking here about just giving money or material things. I really mean giving in terms of an open heart -- giving to life. That means being gracious in all forms to all whom you meet. Examples would be giving compliments, letting others go ahead, smiling, being generous, etc. All of this upgrades our energy; it raises our vibration. Our mood changes and with it the conditions change.

So back to this idea of shedding our ego, the idea is not to fight it or try to destroy as some say. That's just another way of giving it your power, of playing into its game. When you find yourself joining in the fear thoughts, (*) simply observe what is going on and then turn your attention to thoughts and principles that raise your vibratory output. Become more the "observer" rather than a reactor. Making this shift is very much what Spiritual evolvement is about.

Cause And Effect

Our confused fixation upon outer conditions is directly related to another confusion--that of cause and effect. What we experience is directly related to what we give our attention to--not to what happens to us. Indeed, what happens to us is the effect of our thoughts, not the cause of our experience. And, follow me now; if what we think is mostly what we have been taught about how life is/works, then we remain stuck on a merry-go-round where everything stays pretty much the same for us. This is so because as we continually focus our attention upon the same old thoughts, they are continually creating in our lives, repetitively, the same old experience.

But what is the quality of those old thoughts, many of which we have absorbed from the mass consciousness? How many are just prejudicial nonsense? How many are about low regard for yourself, your abilities, potential and your personal power? How rigid are you about these thoughts? This is the problem with rigid thinking. (*) Things remain fairly static at best but more than likely there will be a slow, but ever increasing downward spiral. Static thinking just does not allow for an escalation of good (an upward spiral). Therefore, the only way to recreate our lives is to think different thoughts--think anew. It's a very important step to begin recognizing the cause and effect relationship between our energy level and our experiences.

So here you are; you're creating your life ok, but is it the life you want to create? The way it was meant to be when you came into this physical form, was that you would decide what it is that you want your life to be, visualize it, get the feel of it and watch it become manifest in your experience. Put simply, you would decide what you want and the universe would deliver it to you. Well, be assured, that is the way it works. All that's needed is that you get back on track with the original plan and become conscious of what and how you are creating. (*) That simply means getting back in control, wresting your power from the ego. Its time is over. Now it's time for you to become the decision maker, the DA--Director of (your) Attention.

Life Circumstances Reflect Your Self Image (*)

Take a look at your life. Consider all of your circumstances including your financial status, the car you drive, your home, neighborhood, health, job satisfaction, all of it, and then realize that it's an exact picture of how you view yourself. If you don't like what you see, realize that it is not the real you; you are not your circumstances. Circumstances are fleeting. They are temporary. They are effect, not cause. Our life's conditions are our creations. Because of our conditioning, we tend to identify ourselves with our creations. (*) But our creations are not us. They are the product of past thoughts. Thoughts are cause. Most of us are inclined to identify ourselves as, this person with this name, this job, this home in this neighborhood, who drives this car and hangs out with these type of people. But the truth is not, "who I am is someone who drives an old beat-up car (for example)" but rather, "I drive an old beat-up car because of who I falsely think I am". The truth is, we drive an old auto because of limited beliefs that that's all we deserve. (Discounting the possibility, of course, that it's a conscious choice derived from a conscious desire.) The same goes for limited health, lousy relationships and unhappy careers.

Consider who you want to be; that's the real you. You are magnificent. To remember who we are, divine expressions of Infinite Mind in physical form, is a significant part of our mission in this excursion into physicality. Realize your power. You only think you're powerless; (*), and, accordingly, the universe is simply matching what it is that you think about yourself. Are you beginning to get the picture of what an elegant system the Universe is; and that it is designed to work for you rather than against you? All you have to do is operate consistent with how the Universe operates. Though it may seem difficult in the beginning to accept the truth of your miraculous creative power (*), your acceptance will come.

Who do you want to be?

You are a totally unique individual who has come here to contribute by utiliizng your unique array of talents and abilities. You will be happiest when you are being who you really are -- not through who you think you are from the perspective of your ego. Where you aren't sure who you are, go within and ask your Higher Self for guidance.

In the Introduction at the beginning, I asked why don't we just get on with accepting that we are unlimited beings and live the magnificent lives we were meant to. After all, it's simply a matter of decision. If we're not choosing the best thoughts, it's largely because we're stuck in what I refer to as the muck of current conditions and mass consciousness beliefs. But we're not aware of what the muck feels or looks like-sort of a case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. (*) Because we have lived in the muck all of our lives, it seems natural - almost comfortable, making it easier to remain there. Next, we're going to examine this muck. By showing it for what it is, you can then make a more informed and conscious choice whether or not you want to remain mired in it.

End Part 3; Go to Part 4