Big Ego Identities by Dr Jeanine

copyright July 17, 2007

~Simply Divine Solutions~

Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide

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jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com

“Big ego is lack of trust in your own soul.” ~ Lauren Brownell (Vermont Artist)

We all know exactly what people mean when they describe someone as having a big ego. They are describing someone who is very self-referenced and self centered, often with mind-bending hubris, and perhaps someone who thinks we should worship gratefully at their feet. For some of us, a big ego may call to mind the “big ego anthem” You’re so Vain by Carly Simon. (On an ironic note-it was rumored to be written about Warren Beatty who I happened to say hello to last Saturday. He was warm and friendly. No trace of ego!).

When we talk about this type of ego, we aren’t using Sigmund Freud’s definition of the ego. In his seminal work, he defined three aspects of the self:  the ego (the core self), the superego (the conscience) and the id (the primitive and impulsive self). In our current vernacular, we talk about a big ego in the way that A Course in Miracles describes the ego. In Marianne Williamson’s classic A Return to Love, she writes, “In Course terminology, our entire network of fearful perceptions, all stemming from the first false belief in our separation from God and one another, is called the ego. The word is used differently here than the way in which it is often used in modern psychology. It is being used as the ancient Greeks used it-as the notion of the small, separated self.”

When anyone is running around with a big ego, we can be assured that the person is operating from fear. Whenever I think I have found the person who is the exception to this truth, I invariably find out later that in actuality they are fearful. Having an exaggerated ego is the same mistake as thinking you are unworthy or not enough. Both the “too much” and the “not enough” perspectives are generated from fear and the idea that we are separate from God. I was speaking to my brilliant friend Lauren last night and she casually said “Big ego is lack of trust in your own soul.” Wow! In other words, having an exaggerated self identity is a smokescreen. It is really about not trusting (fear) in the Divine.  For someone with more of an atheistic or agnostic perspective, this fear might come from lack of trust in love or fear concerning the natural order and the inherent organic patterns of life.

The really good news about this big ego awareness is that we can be more forgiving of those who are operating from fear and consequent big ego identity. If we are honest with ourselves, most have us have done at least a little ego posturing. Because we were fearful, we created a façade. Let’s remember to forgive our sisters when they are tempted to use this same defense mechanism. Of course, it can be very challenging to be generous of spirit when we are thoroughly annoyed. However, this challenge may strengthen our spiritual muscle. It may help to put into practice the belief that many of us share; that the personality “layer” is really only part of our outer packaging. The deeper truth about our selves and others is the soul or spirit that lies within.  My experience has been that when members of the big ego brigade feel safe enough, which must include not being judged by us, they will soften and step into a much more balanced, relaxed and honest self identity.

Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail:  jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
Radio Show:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachforWomenWorldwide
Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/spiritualcoach
You Tube Video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/DrJeanine
Expert Encyclopedia~Selfgrowth.com:  http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/dr_jeanine_austin.html

E-course for Men and Women:  Dr. Jeanine is the creator of
"The Alma Answers!
21 Sacred Soul Steps to Divine Solutions"
No matter what the question, the Alma Answers!
 
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What To Do When You Hit The Plateau

copyright 6.29.07

 By Dr. Jeanine

~Simply Divine Solutions ~

 Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide

www.simplydivinesolutions.com

jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com

 (e-mail now for a free no obligation session~a $95.00 value)

We’ve all been there! We’ve begun the process and we are making headway, and then we hit a plateau. It might be weight loss, a spiritual practice, a career endeavor or a home makeover. You feel stuck and you don’t want to regress back to how things were before, but you feel discouraged, and perhaps bored and uninspired. What should you do?

A plateau is a wonderful point from which to re-evaluate your initial plans, goals or commitments. Could you get excited about making some shifts that would breathe some life into your goals? Could you, for instance hire a personal trainer, add some new yummy foods to your healthy diet, take a trip, add new elements to your original career plan, hire a coach, ask for help, or read a new inspiring book?

It is important at this point in the change process to celebrate the progress that you have already made. From this vantage point, you can review that next leg of your journey, to evaluate if you are on a course that still resonates with you. If not, recreate your vision building on past successes. This is what happened to me with my career. First I pursued social work and worked with different populations (such as the elderly, children, the developmentally challenged, immigrants, the indigent, etc…) at different times to build my skill level. I become known for my play therapy with children and wrote and lectured about those techniques. Later, I earned my Ph.D. in coaching (building on my first two degrees in social work). I specialized in coaching with women, and then specialized further in work with metaphysically minded women around the world. Each step was a point to reevaluate and make educational and career development plans.  Following your interests and looking for exciting ways to build foundations for your life expressions can be a creative challenge. However, when plateau happens, try to look for creative ways to move forward with passion.

Sometimes, the plateau is here to help us. It is a time for integration, reflection and reevaluation. Trying to fight the plateau by racing forward may be (counter intuitively perhaps) counterproductive. Consider taking feeling stuck, unmotivated, and uninspired into your meditation and prayer practices. Ask the plateau what it is trying to tell you, listen carefully and acknowledge these insights. Take action if necessary. Carl Jung told us that the psyche is always trying to heal itself. How is your plateau trying to heal and help you?

 Blessings to All of You!

Love,

Dr. Jeanine

Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail:  jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
Radio Show:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachforWomenWorldwide
Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/spiritualcoach
You Tube Video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/DrJeanine
Expert Encyclopedia~Selfgrowth.com:  http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/dr_jeanine_austin.html

E-course for Men and Women:  Dr. Jeanine is the creator of
"The Alma Answers!
21 Sacred Soul Steps to Divine Solutions"
No matter what the question, the Alma Answers!
 
E-mail now for a FREE~NO OBLIGATION~consultation
A $95.00 value!

Living Consciously by Dr. Jeanine

Copyright 2007

  July 8, 2007

~Simply Divine Solutions~

Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide

I once heard a story about a woman who always cut a few inches off of the ends of her pot roast. One day her mother was helping her in the kitchen and wondered aloud why her daughter was cutting the ends of the pot roast, wasting a considerable amount of food. Surprised, the daughter responded “Well, that’s what you did every time you cooked pot roast when I was growing up.” The mother retorted “That was because my pan was too small!” I wondered if the woman even really liked pot roast. Could she be a vegetarian at heart?

Sometimes we do what we do, or think what we think, because it’s what we we’ve learned.  Our choices are often made on automatic pilot. As we grow into adulthood, we sometimes begin to question our beliefs and thoughts. By making these choices conscious, we can examine them and discover whether or not we will continue to embrace them. Socrates went so far as to say “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

In the Bible in the book of Genesis, Adam falls asleep. Nowhere does it say that he ever woke up. The metaphysical implications of his slumber are fascinating. Are we asleep to our deeper truth? Just how unconscious are we?

Many of us avoid living consciously. We may numb ourselves and check out with addictive behaviour. Addictions such as over or under-eating, over-exercising, shopping, alcohol and drugs, television, gossip, and busyness may hinder conscious living. Why would we want to avoid living consciously? Perhaps our conscious choices might be unpopular, they might involve taking some actions we are uncomfortable with and they may feel inconsistent with our persona. However, if we don’t live deliberately, we might ask ourselves “Am I really living?” or “Whose life is this anyway?”

Are you living someone else’s idea of how your life should be? Helen Keller shared that “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.”

Jeanine Austin, Ph.D.
Doctor of Life Coaching
~Simply Divine Solutions~
Personal Coaching for Women Worldwide
Women Transitioning, Transforming and Transcending Around the World
Website: www.simplydivinesolutions.com
E-mail:  jeanine@simplydivinesolutions.com
Radio Show:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/CoachforWomenWorldwide
Myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/spiritualcoach
You Tube Video:  http://www.youtube.com/user/DrJeanine
Expert Encyclopedia~Selfgrowth.com:  http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/dr_jeanine_austin.html

E-course for Men and Women:  Dr. Jeanine is the creator of
"The Alma Answers!
21 Sacred Soul Steps to Divine Solutions"
No matter what the question, the Alma Answers!
 
E-mail now for a FREE~NO OBLIGATION~consultation
A $95.00 value!