During the first 3 years of life,a child’s right brain is dominant allowing for a more natural adjustment to their new world. However,after the age of 3,the left brain along with its thought process begins to assert its dominance…this brings about the formation of our socially conditioned self…it occurs through an imprinting process by deeply embedding a primary social self within the memory of the brain…during this stage we develop the socially conditioned ego which is considered to be our true identity and meaning in life. It includes a self image,role playing,social beliefs and goals all of which make up our ego with its assumptions of being able to control who we are… This process takes on a significant influence for the balance of our life.
The development of our social self happens largely through our unconsciousness and an expression of our social environment especially family relations…when a child is brought up in an impoverished and dysfunctional family,the imprinted social self usually reflects many of these characteristics…however the left brain with it many “shoulds” and expectations also assumes it has self control and can bring about necessary changes in the social self…unfortunately this often leads to a stressful feeling of being trapped in hopelessness and depression…and when the ego demands become dictatorial it can create fertile grounds for an emotional breakdown.
We do need to experience a deep discontent with our social self before we are willing to “let go” and surrender our ego…it is in an act of surrender that opens the door to a profound awareness of our right brain and its occupant our natural self.Every attempt to open the door by our self is just another trick of the left brain ego and destined to fail. It is a gift given only to those who can accept their helplessness.
“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden
Related Pages:
Ego and Right Brain
Collapse of Ego
Value of Adversity
Filed under: ego problem | Tagged: awareness, ego, illusion, insight, letting go, natural, nature, perception, personality, philosophy, psychology, random musings, social conditioning, social self, society, thoughts, wisdom
“FLOW WITH WHATEVER MAY HAPPEN AND LET YOUR MIND BE FREE." ~CHUANG TZU
Hi pochp,
Although I don’t seek adversity,I do see them as opportunities to clear away many of the superficalities of life particularly unnecessary personal expectations…there is nothing like a good shaking up too re-evaluate all our assumptions.
Thanks for the Tao link.
Sid
Btw Papa, just type ‘tao te ching pdf’ on Google and you can have it.
“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden
If we could only remember this quote, we will always have a good reason not to fight adversity.