Role Playing: The Many Faces of Ego by Eckhart Tolle
"You become most powerful in whatever you do if the action is performed for its own sake rather than as a means to protect, enhance, or conform your role identity." Eckhart Tolle
While there are circumstances in which we may wear different hats, Tolle looks at how we become identified with the roles we play, which very often has nothing to do with who we are and is not authentic. Are you your self around everyone in every circumstance or do you play different roles? Have you ever noticed the way in which you interact with different people in different ways? For example you may feel more at ease and comfortable around your family and certain friends so you may be comfortable just being your authentic, fun, talkative animated funky self - yet you may notice that when you are around other friends, people of authority, children you act in a different manner and perhaps remain very quiet and demure or shy. If so, you are playing a role, or to put it in another way, you are pretending to be someone you are not. Therefore, it is important to learn how to be an open, fluid critical thinker and a unique individual.
Did you buy that new sofa or new boat because you need it, to "keep up with the Jones'" or to enhance your sense of "self" and ego. Do you really enjoy spending time with your investment banker or are you role playing and pretending to enjoy her company so that you will eventually "gain" and "get something" out of it. There are many ways in which people play roles designed to protect, enhance and conform to what they believe will serve them selves (ego). The act of "giving" is a great example: If you "give" and "help" and engage in acts of kindness do it because you hold yourself to a certain standard and not for any other reason - otherwise it is not authentic and you are playing a role to serve your self(ego). Do you do "good" things because you think you will look "good" in the eyes of others, or because you think that if you do you will receive a hefty tax write-off, win an award or go to heaven? If you do, then ask yourself if you are doing it to serve your Self and enhance your ego or if you are true in your intention and heart. Become aware of the energy of your true intentions in any given situation and learn how to unravel yourself from playing roles.
