In spiritual circles the Ego is a hot topic for discussion. Those going through a spiritual awakening process will understand the triggers related to ego and how the breaking down of ego happens in its own way.
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What about the concept of a spiritual ego traps – Yes, such a thing exists and is identifiable. Are you trapped?
So, what exactly is a spiritual ego trap?
Those familiar with the human ego and its mechanisms will easily identify how such a concept is possible. We can break it down as to identify how a spiritual ego trap might be present in your own spiritual journey. All of these traps can be addressed for those on a path of self-awareness and authenticity. Trust, it’s all a part of the journey.
Below is a small list to explore yourself and pinpoint if you’re ego-trapped.
1. Judging others for their state of spirituality or how ‘woke’ they are
Do you find yourself taking a downward look at people around you that might not be at your stage of “growth”? This is a big one and very easy to identify. When our state or personality starts to shift around others and we feel like they can’t catch up to us – you may be ensnared.
Why does this happen? When the process of spirituality initially presents itself, a person can still get blindsided by a sense of superiority. (This can still happen no matter how ‘enlightened’ someone appears to be.) This trap helps to remind us that we are are all worthy of love. It’s to remind us that every person out there is at their own state of growth.
2. Trying to climb the invisible ladder of growth/consciousness/spirituality
Do you find you might be comparing your soul journey here as a race with others or needing to constantly “ascend”? Putting ourselves into a metaphorical race automatically separates us from the natural growth process. This trap can be identified if you’ve been exhausting yourself with negative thought patterns about reaching the goal. What goal? Oh you know the one…complete and total enlightenment? Yeah…
Why does this happen? Humans love competition. It’s easy for people to get stuck in this cycle. However, the lesson that’s being shown is to remind us we are here in the present. There is no race because there is no destination. This creates awareness of our ego limitations we place on ourselves.
3. Attempting to ‘awaken’ others
Are you on a soapbox throwing your spiritual growth onto others? Have you found yourself judging others that aren’t awake yet? If we force our thoughts or growth onto another, it’s the direct opposite to a conscious state of being. Sit back and truly examine yourself. If you’re getting a high from this or soliciting spiritual advice without prompting from others, you’ll feel it.
Why does this happen? It happens when a person has begun to externalize their journey. Yes, it’s natural to want to help others and want them to experience something similar. We want others to be able to see what we’ve seen. This comes from a state of loneliness, ego, and forgetting this journey is all about you – not someone else. Go in and ask if this is really right for you and the other person. Is this natural? Are you hurting other people’s feelings? Ask away.
4. Shunning everyday responsibilities
It’s important to note that even if you’re going through a spiritual process, you still have a life. If your everyday responsibilities seem like a hassle or humdrum compared to spirituality, you could be trapped here. While the inner work can sometimes be tough and ultimately rewarding – life is still here and ever present. If you’re getting questioned about your lack of responsibility and finding that you can’t keep up, it might be time to take a break.
Why does this happen? At the start it feels like like there’s so much to learn about ourselves as the egoic mind shifts. We want to soak up as much information as possible and heal. Many issues can come up and if we don’t have the space to process, it spills over into our daily life. This is a balancing act. Be present and remember this balancing act is part of our existence here. If we throw ourselves too much into work, we become imbalanced or burnt out. The same goes for spirituality.
5. Trying to save others that don’t want help
I’m a huge comics lover. In these comics we have stories of heroes and heroines. While I love comics, these stories are just expressions of self in our reality. You can be a hero or heroine but if you’re finding yourself playing a role of “Light Savior of Planet Earth” on a daily basis, it’s detrimental. Comics aside, attempting to save others takes away your own power and that of the other person. This is an interference in their own growth.
Why does this happen? During the start of this process I still recall learning about reality and conscious growth. I wanted to save lots of people. If this savior complex gets to our heads we can develop a complex that’s similar to the trap mentioned above. This lesson is learnt by understanding we can’t save everyone and people need to work on themselves. It’s to be noted that during my awakening I wanted to help as many people as I could and give of myself beyond my means. Yet I learnt how impossible that is to accomplish. (Even with all the energy in the world.) It required asking myself hard questions and a deep sense of acceptance that some people simply don’t want to be saved.
There’s many reasons why a spiritual ego trap can happen. I haven’t listed all of them but the easiest ones to identify are in this list. Have you found yourself stuck in any of these? If so, sit down and start writing out what you may be wondering. This is a good thing. Process.
As with any journey of growth, we will find snags here and there. It’s getting out of these tight spaces and growing that matters the most.
Become your grander self. Breathe, be, and let be!
