Letting Go of Ego: The Spiritual Path to Mental Lightness
The most difficult thing to go with is ego. It breeds the illusion of separation regarding others, superiority, or inferiority in us. Ego is not who we are; it is just a figment of our imagination or an unreal being. Gurudev Premananand Ji Maharaj once said, “The more you cling to the ego, the heavier your mind gets.” And if we drop the ego, the heart seems light and the mind clear.
An ego causes anger, jealousy, pride and pain. The truth is, within the personality an entire spiritual growth occurs only when the person comes to the realisation of soulhood devoid of ego.
What is the Ego?
Ego is the ‘I’ that perceives itself as distinct from others. It is always attempting to validate its worth, flaunting or governing situations. The ego tells us, “I did this,” “I know better,” or “Why should I listen?” The relationship that separates us from ourselves from others, even from God. Ego is not confidence. Confidence is quiet and steady; ego is noisy and insecure. Ego craves praise, shuns blame, detests failure. It instills fear of failure and fear of being judged. We get more stressed and agitated when we feed the ego.
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Why Ego Creates Mental Burden?
Unfortunately, when our actions are fueled by ego, we begin to compare ourselves with others. We are concerned about what people think about us. We want the outcome, and we want to brute force our way there. When they aren’t, we become angry or disappointed. This brings you inner tension and mental burden.
Ego is also what makes us sensitive to criticism. Not even a word here can hurt our pride. And instead of listening and learning, we go on the defensive. Failing to recognize that attitude stunts our growth and robs us of our peace of mind.
Spirituality as a Means to Release Ego
Spirituality reminds us that we’re not the body or even the mind—we’re the soul. By building our connection to the Divine through prayer, meditation, or devotion, we can begin to see ‘the bigger picture. We know that everything is out of God’s will. Only He can use us; we are but instruments in His hands.
This acknowledgement brings about the dissolution of the ego. We are not in survival mode and trying to control everything anymore. We walk the path of acceptance with faith and surrender. This yielding does not weaken us, it makes us peaceful and wise.
How To Tell If Ego Is Running The Show?
Here are some signs that ego may be running your life:
- You always need to be correct, even at the expense of relationships.
- You have a hard time admitting when you fuck up.
- You are jealous when others succeed.
- You constantly crave attention or appreciation.
- You allow the opinion of others to hurt you easily.
- You do not like to receive advice or help from others.
And if you see these symptoms, don’t beat yourself up. Just be aware. You know that nothing you can change.
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How to Let Go of Ego?
Releasing ego is not a one-time thing. It’s a continuous practice. Here are a few tips on how to lower the ego and walk towards mental liberation:
Practice Humility
Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less. It’s willing to be open to learn, to grow, and to realize that you don’t know everything.” When you’re humble, you have nothing to prove.
Say Thank You Often
Gratitude melts the ego. When we give thanks to God, to our parents, to our teachers and even to those we don’t know for helping, we acknowledge we did not achieve success on our own. We have gotten here through so many hands.
Accept Your Mistakes
There is no harm in saying “I was wrong.” Owning your errors doesn’t mean you’re little; it means you’re capable. It’s a sign of maturity and honesty.
Serve Others Selflessly
When we do something for others without expecting anything back, we weaken the ego. Music is happiness, and with it, the love for people. Even simple acts—listening, helping, comforting—can get your focus to change from “I” to “we.”
Spend Time in Silence
Silence allows us to commune with our authentic selves. We watch our thoughts without judging them in silence. We hear how frequently ego is yapping at our inner voice, making it into blindfolded, arbitrary criticism. In that, we begin to listen to the soul’s currents.
Spiritual Books or Listen to Saints
The enlightened souls and their words lead us to the truth. They show us the bigger picture of life. They are the ones who have transcended beyond the veil of the trap of self, beyond the ego, and take us to the way of love, and the way of surrender.
Chant the Name of God
Bhakti, or devotion, manifests as the most potent of diffusers, for it is the ego that makes a hollow of the heart. It purifies the heart and keeps it filled with love and faith when one recites or calls God’s name. Where love for God is not there, ego cannot remain. The wonderful love between Radha and Krishna as it is described that the greatest bliss is in surrendering oneself completely to God without any self-interested motives.
The Elevation of an Ego-Less Mind
The mind is light when the ego is not there. There’s no jealousy, no rage, no need to prove anything. You laugh freely, forgive generously, and appreciate every second. You are guided by the present, never looking back or peeking forward.
Your relationships improve. You start to see others with more depth and allow for their imperfections. You are no longer reacting to minor problems. You give calm and love in response. Spiritual lightness doesn’t imply evading the world. It has to do with moving through the world with peace and grace. It means fulfilling your responsibilities with love, not pride.
Ego and True Identity
We are not the ego, we are the soul. Shiv equals soul — eternal, peaceful, and divine. Time, Circumstances, and People make the Ego different. The soul remains the same. Encouragingly, identifying with the soul connects us with God and all beings. Only compassion, and not competition.
Radha-Krishna’s love is a brilliant instance of this divine attachment.” Radha Ji had no ego. All she wanted to do was serve Krishna. It was that pure love that enveloped her into the Lord. By the same token, we move toward divine love when we shed ego.
Final Thoughts
Ego is not a loss to be dismissed but a big loss to be shed. You become less proud but more at peace. You take your anger and transform it into love. You cease controlling and begin trusting. You no longer live in fear, you live in faith.
Not about becoming someone else. It’s about remembering your true self. Not the ego—but the soul. And when you walk on this path of devotion, you will experience mental lightness, joy, and complete inner freedom.
Start today. Observe your thoughts. Serve with love. Surrender your pride. And trust in the divine plan. You are the light you seek, you just have to clear the ego-willow that holds it back.