Topic: The Ego Program
Received 17 Dec 2024
The Ego develops as the body develops because it is part of the body. The Soul does not need an Ego.
The Ego is a program that develops along with all aspects of the human being from birth.
Just as Artificial Intelligence is built using input from information already available on the internet, so is the Ego Program built from information available in the environment.
The primary information in childhood is usually the parents’ behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. These are taken in by the human antenna, the brain, and the Ego Program begins developing.
As a human becomes more conscious, she becomes aware of an automatic running stream of thought inside the mind. This stream of thought comes from the Ego Program. In other words, it originates with programming from birth. It happens automatically and continues to happen automatically just as a thermostat automatically runs the heating and air in your home.
Unlike a thermostat, however, the automatic running stream of thought cannot be turned off by pressing a button. It CAN be turned off, but it usually takes a great deal of self-awareness and consciously developing the skill for turning it off. Most humans have not learned this skill.
Automatic thoughts are different from thoughts that you consciously think. Problem solving, critical thinking, decision making are thoughts you choose to think about.
The most troublesome thing about automatic thoughts is that many of them are negative. They are often negative because of the programming from infancy and childhood.
The Ego Program is a survival mechanism. In more primitive days, the automatic negative thoughts would include such things as “That animal will kill you,” and “Don’t trust the other tribe. They will kill you all,” and “I need him with me, or I will die.” There was truth to such thoughts during those times.
In today’s world, the Ego Program is more likely to spew thoughts such as “What if he fires me? I’ll be ruined,” and “If he doesn’t love me, I’ll be alone the rest of my life,” and “I’ll never have enough money.” There is usually no truth to these thoughts.
So, you see, while the Ego Program still has its place to some degree, it is now maladaptive.
It is time for an intervention and an update to the Ego Program.