When I use the word ‘ego’, I mean that little voice that talks to you from within your head. You may have noticed: when you are in a conscious and lucid state, that little voice of ego talks incessantly. I have likened it to a little panel of judges…ego is always ready to judge you…and ego is even more ready to judge others. The ego, acting like a little panel of judges in your head, judges quickly and harshly. It has opinions on everything and everyone. It is always making demands and suggestions on how you should go about making yourself feel good and look good.

 

Your ego [and my ego and everyone else’s ego] spends all its time seeking something ‘better’.

 

Ego is the human, all too human, side of human being.

 

Ego continuously seeks more pleasure.

 

Ego continuously seeks less pain.

 

Here’s a bit more detail about ego…

 

We have said people behave like Riders on Elephants on Paths.  Now we are saying ego is the source of your behaviours.

 

Ego is the voice of your Elephant-And-Rider.

 

Every person has an Elephant-And-Rider.

 

You have your Elephant-And-Rider combo.

 

Every person has an Elephant-And-Rider combo.

 

Each Elephant-And-Rider combo has its little voice called ‘ego’.

 

When the little voice of ego speaks to you from inside your head it wants very much to get its way.

 

Your ego has a powerful and compelling force.

 

Yet, your ego is often misguided.

 

Bad Habits are the consequence of ego working to 'get its way' when the ego is misguided…and the ego is misguided quite a bit of the time. Taking full advantage of the Haidt metaphor…your ego is misguided when your Elephant overpowers your Rider. When that happens, your ego will make misguided demands.