The Issue with the Ego
There's this instinctual dread that creeps in, anticipating negative feedback.
Happy Friday friends!
This week, I've been enjoying sharing one of my favorite Yogic & Buddhist teachings on the Kleshas on Radio Headspace, which you can listen to on Spotify [here]. Also, this week, I have my dear friend Liz Plosser the Editor-in-Chief of Women's Health on The Radically Loved Podcast. We get into some great topics regarding aging, how women are perceived in the media, and work/life balance. You can watch it on YouTube [here] or click the image below to listen on Spotify.
So, What are the five kleshas? The Sanskrit word klesha translates to “poison” or “affliction.” This term is used to denote specific negative mental patterns that obscure our true nature. The kleshas are considered the cause of suffering in yogic and Buddhist philosophy and are to be actively overcome.
The five Kleshas are Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (egoism or I-am-ness), Raga (attachment), Dvesha (repulsion and aversion), and Abhinivesha (fear of death and the will to live). Today, we're diving into a concept that hits close to home for many of us, the Klesha: Asmita, or egoism, and its role in our daily struggles.
A few days ago, I found myself anxiously awaiting to hear back from my book editor.
It's a moment that always tests my patience. There's this instinctual dread that creeps in, anticipating negative feedback. You know how it goes—you could receive mounds of positive feedback, but the moment that one negative critique comes through, it's like everything else fades away.
Suddenly, self-doubt looms large, and you start feeling like you're the worst person on the planet.
Have you ever experienced something similar? Where something that once brought you joy suddenly became a source of stress?
This is where the Ego comes into play. It's this relentless pursuit of validation and identity from external sources that can leave us feeling empty and inadequate. For example, someone might base their entire self-worth on their career success, constantly seeking praise and recognition in the workplace.
Similarly, individuals may tie their identity solely to their relationships, deriving their sense of self from their status as a partner or parent, losing sight of their intrinsic value beyond those roles. In practical terms, it’s the attachment to ego and the false identity it creates.
So, Back when I was working as a personal assistant, I took immense pride in my job.
But deep down, I carried this sense of insecurity, stemming from a past where positive validation was rare.