“The ego seeks to divide and separate. The spirit seeks to uni | The Un-Alena-ble

“The ego seeks to divide and separate. The spirit seeks to unify and heal.” - Pema Chodron

What is our ego? Is it psychoanalytic theory that Freud encapsulated into three distinctions? Perhaps. Or is it pride? Ezra Benson said, “Pride is concerned with who is right, humility is concerned with what is right.” And he referenced the core of pride is the enmity between God and us, which is our hatred, hostility, or opposition to. Benson further goes on to include that pride can be enmity towards others where we elevate ourselves above others by diminishing them.

In all the years I have seen the grassroots at work, the pride or ego factor, destroys progress. Let me be frank; there is a great work to be done and there’s no room or time for fracturing in the movement. Those that claim to have the same goal do not demonstrate it by fracturing against similar groups (throwing away individuals or organizations) because their way is better.

The ego runs wild and like a stampede destroys the ultimate goal of positive change because the only thing that matters to the ego is that the person is right and is on top. It creates an insatiable appetite to gain attention, fame, glory, and credit because the one thing that matters is power to the man that is deficient in humility.

The conundrum is this: once the ego has ravaged a movement, the trust is lost and it’s nearly impossible to mend without a lot of concerted effort. It makes sense that groups are careful in who they work with. Oftentimes they have been betrayed. I know I have my boundaries.

It is vital that to preserve the trust, one must adhere to the highest form of integrity and character in all actions. We cannot go wrong when we are humble enough to know our weaknesses and other’s strengths and to know when to lead and when to be led.