Ego is the First Responder

On occasion, I've been hooked by something someone writes and in my state of "hooked-ness" I write a fiery response. Fortunately, often, before I do anything with my response I reread what originally hooked me and find, to my dismay, I was mistaken in my original interpretation. This is what happens when we see through the eyes of guilt. The ego response is always defensive and it retaliates.

The ego always responds first and it's response is always defensive.  Perhaps realizing this is what's behind the old adage "When you're angry, count to ten before you say anything." That space, between one and ten, (when we do it properly and take a full ten seconds as opposed when we rush through it and count to ten in, like, three seconds) is often all that's needed to get ego in its place and begin thinking with the right mind. Becoming aware of the areas that pinch us is enlightening and can be what leads us to become broader and fuller human beings. 

#acim #acourseinmiracles #counseling