I AM are the two most powerful words in the Universe...and the most dangerous. Why, you ask? They are only two words stating what you are, or are going to do. Exactly my point.
I AM tells the Universe what you are. I discussed in an earlier blog that the Universe serves as a mirror reflecting back to us what we put out there. If you say "I AM sad," or "I AM so stupid," you are going to get more and more things in your life that make you sad or make you feel stupid. I had a friend share with me once that she would get so annoyed with her children and she would always say, "I AM so sick and tired of ______." Guess what? She was always sick and she was always tired.
Why would those two words be dangerous? This is where the real conundrum comes into play. We are all connected. If you believe in the Big Bang theory of creation, or the biblical story of Adam and Eve, we are all connected since we came from one big ball of Universal matter, or one set of human parents. According to Eckhart Tolle, in order to really embrace our humanity and consciousness, we need to let go of the ego. I AM is ego, pure and simple. We define ourselves with these two words. Yet, we've been given such a gift, such an experience of individuality (no two humans are exactly alike), how can it be dangerous or "ego-tistical?"
By getting so wrapped up in the ego, the I AM, we feed the differences between us. Some religions feel they are the "right" religion. Another way of belief won't get souls into heaven but doom them to hell. Other groups of people have different skin color, or features, so prejudices and stereotypes come into play. Or the belief in "the lack of" that we cheat each other, and even fight wars, to get one more piece of the perceived limited supply of pie.
How do we toe the line, the fine line between appreciating, even reveling, in our individuality? Our natural gifts and uniqueness? Yet not getting so wrapped up in the ego that we feel so different, or so threatened, by others? It is truly a puzzle, and like a puzzle, each piece is unique. But by coming together, we put together a beautiful picture.
Professionals know that recognition of a problem is 90% of the battle. Sales people use a method of Solution Selling where they sell solutions to the problem, but first the client has to recognize they have a problem. (Yes, the method involves instruction on how to create/reveal a problem that they can solve through the sale of their "product solution.") Alcoholics Anonymous' first step is recognition of an alcohol problem.
I subscribe to the belief that Mr. Tolle suggests: recognition of the ego would go a long way to slowing down the ego takeover. Acknowledgment of "Oh, that's just my ego talking" when we feel slighted by an unkind comment instead of reacting by hurt feelings or an equally hurtful response will remove a lot of power from the ego. Being aware of the ego when we feel jealousy towards others for having what is perceived as more, instead of using our ability to create our own reality where we are living in abundance. It will also go a long way towards building on the "connectedness" of our world instead of creating more differences.
Use the power of the words I AM carefully being aware of what you are creating. Be aware of your thoughts and subsequent words. Use your power, your uniqueness, to create unity, not differences.
I AM tells the Universe what you are. I discussed in an earlier blog that the Universe serves as a mirror reflecting back to us what we put out there. If you say "I AM sad," or "I AM so stupid," you are going to get more and more things in your life that make you sad or make you feel stupid. I had a friend share with me once that she would get so annoyed with her children and she would always say, "I AM so sick and tired of ______." Guess what? She was always sick and she was always tired.
Why would those two words be dangerous? This is where the real conundrum comes into play. We are all connected. If you believe in the Big Bang theory of creation, or the biblical story of Adam and Eve, we are all connected since we came from one big ball of Universal matter, or one set of human parents. According to Eckhart Tolle, in order to really embrace our humanity and consciousness, we need to let go of the ego. I AM is ego, pure and simple. We define ourselves with these two words. Yet, we've been given such a gift, such an experience of individuality (no two humans are exactly alike), how can it be dangerous or "ego-tistical?"
By getting so wrapped up in the ego, the I AM, we feed the differences between us. Some religions feel they are the "right" religion. Another way of belief won't get souls into heaven but doom them to hell. Other groups of people have different skin color, or features, so prejudices and stereotypes come into play. Or the belief in "the lack of" that we cheat each other, and even fight wars, to get one more piece of the perceived limited supply of pie.
How do we toe the line, the fine line between appreciating, even reveling, in our individuality? Our natural gifts and uniqueness? Yet not getting so wrapped up in the ego that we feel so different, or so threatened, by others? It is truly a puzzle, and like a puzzle, each piece is unique. But by coming together, we put together a beautiful picture.
Professionals know that recognition of a problem is 90% of the battle. Sales people use a method of Solution Selling where they sell solutions to the problem, but first the client has to recognize they have a problem. (Yes, the method involves instruction on how to create/reveal a problem that they can solve through the sale of their "product solution.") Alcoholics Anonymous' first step is recognition of an alcohol problem.
I subscribe to the belief that Mr. Tolle suggests: recognition of the ego would go a long way to slowing down the ego takeover. Acknowledgment of "Oh, that's just my ego talking" when we feel slighted by an unkind comment instead of reacting by hurt feelings or an equally hurtful response will remove a lot of power from the ego. Being aware of the ego when we feel jealousy towards others for having what is perceived as more, instead of using our ability to create our own reality where we are living in abundance. It will also go a long way towards building on the "connectedness" of our world instead of creating more differences.
Use the power of the words I AM carefully being aware of what you are creating. Be aware of your thoughts and subsequent words. Use your power, your uniqueness, to create unity, not differences.
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