Ego C h e c k

I t is crucial t h a t we c o n t i n u a l l y p u l l ourselves out o f o u r mindset

i n e r t i a a n d e x a m i n e t h e r e a s o n s b e h i n d t h e o p i n i o n s a n d b e l i e f s we

hold. I t is perilously easy to simply go along with the prevailing

c u r r e n t s o f thought and mindlessly accept the ready-made ideas o f

others, rather than thinking for ourselves. The reasoning of

"Almost everyone believes this, so why shouldn't I?" is lazy

i n t e l l e c t u a l s u r r e n d e r .

I f we t h i n k and a c t in e x a c t l y the same p a t t e r n s a s the mainstream,

how have we a c t u a l l y elevated ourselves above t h a t level? How a r e we

making any progress towards o u r intended growth and evolution?

Cyclones and tempests represent the unpleasant, disruptive events i n

o u r lives t h a t force us to adapt and evolve to h i g h e r levels o f

p e r s p e c t i v e a n d b e i n g . T h i s a l i g n s with Debrowsky's t h e o r y o f

positive d i s i n t e g r a t i o n - the notion t h a t t r u e advanced development

r e q u i r e s the breaking down o f our e x i s t i n g psychological s t r u c t u r e s

so t h a t h i g h e r, more evolved s t r u c t u r e s can form in t h e i r place.

Inner c o n fl i c t s , neuroses, g u i l t , depression, adverse conditions,

p a i n f u l l i f e events - through the process o f g r a p p l i n g with and

assimilating these challenges, we can transform and elevate to

higher levels of moral, ethical, and spiritual consciousness. Growth

n e c e s s i t a t e s the s h e d d i n g o f old p a t t e r n s and m i n d s e t s to a l l o w new

o n e s t o e m e r g e .

You c a n n o t c o n t a i n new wine in old w i n e s k i n s . The

d i s i n t e g r a t i o n process c r e a t e s i n n e r tension as a s i g n o f healthy

g r o w t h in a n i n d i v i d u a l .

I t has become fashionable to place g r e a t importance on the

i n fl u e n c e o f o u r e x t e r n a l e n v i r o n m e n t - t h e w o r l d a n d

circumstances we a r e born into which a r e imposed upon us through

no choice o f o u r own. But t h e r e is a n o t h e r environment, o f t e n

overlooked, t h a t we c r e a t e for ourselves through o u r choices

- the places we choose to inhabit, the objects and media we

v o l u n t a r i l y s u r r o u n d ourselves with. One's home and l i v i n g space

can reveal much about the mindsets o f its inhabitants, as it

expresses their personal tastes in books, art, furniture, decor.

Each o f t h e s e chosen elements s t e a d i l y s h a p e s and i n fl u e n c e s t h e

16 individual's perception, whether consciously or not.