SEVEN SINS OF THE EGO
The conscious act in bettering our behaviors
Due to our current state of the world and the uncertainty of the near future, this is a great time for self-reflection. Emotions come in all types and sizes, some bring about happiness while others bring pain and suffering. Even history will show humans acting on emotions, the first world war was motivated by fear, greed and the desire for power. Studies will show that emotions come from the limbic system of the brain. This structure registers the levels of chemicals being manufactured by the body in response to certain conditions the person is experiencing. We use emotions for expression in words, connections with others or simply understanding self. But why do we react one way instead of another, how come to some emotions feel like they drown us in it and lose control of ourselves? I am no master, I am no expert in a subject, I only speak of curiosity and wonder if we as one can change for the better. Having been around so many personalities and expressions of emotion, I have taken the time to offer an idea.
We will be diving into the ego and the 7 categories called sins, they are often thought to be abuses or excessive versions of one’s natural behavior. These are the classification of vices in Christian teaching as the 7 deadly sins or the cardinal sins. looking towards the extreme version of these sins and possibly reflect, on a lesser scale, on connections made by them. Keeping accountability and awareness when we see characteristics or traits in us from these sins. This will make consciousness easier to achieve, working towards self-love.
WRATH: Looking through eyes of red, seeing the world against self, becoming en-(rage). Consumed by a negative force that controls all conscious and unconsciousness, completely erasing our logical thinking and clarity at that time of anger. Rage is one of the strongest emotions that can cause the most harm to others and themselves. We consider wrath to be seen as those who scream or create public distress but wrath can also be inner battles. Remembering that wrath gives a level of excitement to our day, it can feed off the adrenaline and crave for more distress or expression of just unconsciously. Don't lose control, always breathe through red and never act during the state of wrath.
GREED: Getting the prize, the trophy and that fame that comes with it, (material gain). We use this constantly in our lives, it is a means to reach our most prized possessions, creating an image or idea of these objects. It is the next car, next job opportunity or even next partnership but greed is never content or satisfied, It is like filling a glass with a hole. attracting us to new ideas of what we need, giving the ego thirst for more. Material gain is not always negative and can be used for motivation to achieve personal goals but we must remember that they are still objects, they should not be heavily weighted on. Our being does not understand attachments, it can only connect through energy, egoless acts, and self-love.
GLUTTONY: Feasting the night away, (over-indulge) in our passions, even if it means bringing the body discomfort and pain. To become Gluttony is to do harm to the body. This occurs during emotionally unstable moments, we search for something or someone to fill that hunger. it can come from work stress, loneliness, anxiety or negative emotions to force the body to desired our passion uncontrollably and with no boundaries. If we listen to this craving, we will become damaged from the over abuse of this gluttony. Never over-indulge, be grateful for what is and control the urges.
ENVY: Be envious (pain for others good fortune) and you shall have less of yourself. Always comparing self to others, always wanting what others have and never being happy with what is. This negative emotion towards others' good fortune will consume our persona, never feeling gratitude, appreciation and inner happiness. Envy can truly reach all areas of our life, we can envy our friends, our relationships or even past self, pose on that idea. it creates a strong sense of ownership with what they have, we should have. This is an emotion I truly believe no one should possess, it is negative, harmful and painful to see and have it directed at. Gives the ego power to create reasons and express it with hate or anger. Try to never envy another, push that emotion aside, don't let it unravel you, always be loving of others’ happiness.
LUST: if I live by the moral conduct of desire is everything, passion is my salvation, it is my novelty, then I am lust (craving or a voluptuous emotion). This can take any shape in subjects such as sexuality, love, money, and power. Some of us get confused by the close relationship it has towards love. This sin is hard to try and find its balance point, it is important for us to feel the passion and be attracted too since humans are in the need of love and compassion but don’t let it change who you are. Our goal is self-love and self-caring, so when we choose lust, emotional desire or cravings, ask yourself does this bring about inner happiness or just a temporary release.
PRIDE: Also known as vanity, has been called the sin from which all others arise. it is (indulgence of once self-satisfaction), self-work or proudness of possession. Studies discuss religions being consumed or act on pride, showing you to be at a higher level then others or “if you follow us then you will become”. Pride is not negative, it is self-respect and self-esteem which we need to increase confidence. It also brings about arrogance and hubris acts, so working on this subject is hard to find how much or too much. Staying humble is the act against pride, it reminds us we are not better nor worse but equal.
SLOTH: the desire for ease (laziness), to not want to use energy or neglect life altogether. The Greek word translates to absence and care, which is the lack of caring for self. There are so many ways sloth can creep into our lives and place tardiness of tasks, lack of energy or effort. Laziness and negligence of personal talents, obligations and basic appearance and hygiene. This act will bring about more stress and anxiety for the body, we are creatures of movement, we enjoy seeing tasks finish and become motivated by that success. Don't indulge in sloth, take a day off, have a holiday or mentally clock out but temporarily. Become accountable for goal setting and task scheduling if we feel sloth slipping into our daily routines.
We must become aware of these acts. A shift in consciousness called awakening to the present moment, lowering expectations and increasing positive energy to others and self. awareness of your emotional state will help us become clear of the ego and its mechanics, finally reaching the recognition of our thought process. To the buddha religion, the human mind in its normal state generates dukkha, which can be translated as suffering, unsatisfactoriness or plain misery. So to truly stay away from dukkha, the misery of the mind, we must let go of some of these sins and its acts. Becoming completely aware or awakened by distancing attachments to things which constantly steers us away from the present moment. This is difficult to achieve since we all enjoy our small dosages of pleasures but only need to become conscious of our acts. consciousness leads to a world shift, its positivity brighter than the dullness and the path forward no longer fights with us but moves within us.
A statement that was impactful which gave me reflection. From the book of the New Earth, “ if the history of humanity were a clinical case of the history of a single human being, the diagnosis would be chronic paranoid delusions, a pathological propensity to commit murder and acts of extreme violence and cruelty against his perceived “enemies”- his own unconsciousness projected outward. Criminally insane, with a few brief lucid intervals.” doesn't it get you thinking?