Low Self Esteem
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Social psychologists say people deceive themselves in an unconscious effort to boost self-esteem or feel better. Evolutionary psychologists, who say different parts of the brain can harbor conflicting beliefs at the same time, say self-deception is a way of fooling others to our own advantage.
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“Many of us would probably like to live with a certain degree of illusion about independent choice and uniqueness when it comes to products that are consumed in public (rather than in private) and possessions that define who we are as individuals. (Remember that indie band you used to like until they became “too popular”?) Although there is a growing trend of allowing consumers to personalize products, choices are of course constrained by what is made available to us in the first place. As a result, our individuality is expressed more through a unique combination of choices than specific possessions. But those of us with a high need for uniqueness just can’t help but sometimes feel that our distinctiveness is compromised by others’ choices mirroring our own. Fortunately for us, we often live in blissful ignorance. So far, I haven’t spotted another person wearing the same jacket.”
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Ego Traps
• If you think it is more “spiritual” to ride a bike to work or use public transportation, but then find yourself judging anyone who drives a car, you’re in an ego trap.
• If you think it is more “spiritual” to stop watching television because it rots your brain, but then find yourself judging those who still watch TV, you’re in an ego trap.
• If you think it is more “spiritual” to avoid reading gossip, tabloid or news magazines, but then find yourself judging those who do read those things, you’re in an ego trap.
• If you think it is more “spiritual” to listen to classical music or soothing nature sounds, but then find yourself judging those who listen to mainstream or pop music, you’re in an ego trap.
• If you think it is more “spiritual” to do yoga, become a vegan, buy organic, buy healing crystals, practice reiki, meditate, wear hippie/thrift shop clothing, visit ashrams and read enlightened spiritual books, but then you judge anyone who doesn’t do those things, you’re in an ego trap.
Always be aware of the feeling of superiority. Self-righteous superiority is your biggest clue that you are in an ego trap. The ego loves to sneak in the back door. It will take a noble idea, like starting up yoga, and then twist it to serve its own ends by making you feel superior to others; you will start to look down on those who are not following your righteous “spiritual” path. Superiority, judgment and condemnation. That is the ego trap.