Excessive Ego Attachment

EGO DETACHMENT

Inability to speak your opinions and ideas in public is often due to a simple problem.  Ego attachment.  The solution is detachment.

It’s as if your idea or what you’d like to say is you.  Your worthwhileness as a person is connected to a mere thought or point of view.  So if it is ignored, disapproved of, or voted down, you go down with it.  When your well-being as a human being is dependent on others “applauding” or liking what you say, it’s obvious you will be very careful.  You will be reluctant to speak.  You will be frightened to express yourself.

Paralyzed in this way by fear you will keep many good thoughts to yourself.  Resentment, jealousy, hostility, depression may follow.  A kind of sickness of spirit from excessive ego attachment.  Too much mistaken notion that your value as a person is dependent on being “right on”.

Recognizing this you can begin to detach your ego from your statements.  Realizing that your value is independent of people liking or even listening to what you have to say, you can begin to contribute.

Usually this means beginning by overriding a lot of feelings with a determination to do what you are now convinced is true.  In spite of fear, uneasiness, apprehension – breaking out into a new involvement, a gratifying fresh creativeness.

Jesus said “Woe to you when all people think well of you . . .”  Luke 6:26