Conflicts, Motives, and Ego

[TexasTowelie]

By Carol Morgan

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with others’ behavior and the reasons for their actions. Because of that experience, I try to examine my personal “whys” almost daily.

All of us should regularly re-examine our motives and intentions for our actions; it allows us to determine if we’re maintaining momentum for our life’s purpose or drifting off course. It also prevents us from unconsciously harming others, temporarily blinded by the reward we receive.

Many of us fail to reflect on our personal motives because it requires being quiet and still, away from distractions, and most importantly, being truthful with ourselves. Sometimes, our motives are simple and straightforward, but other times, unbeknownst to us, we do things to compensate for our insecurities, escape our fears, gain approval and affirmation from others, fulfill other people’s expectations, escape pain or boredom, or to assuage our guilt and shame.

The laundry lists of pay-offs that we fail to acknowledge is long and we waste a lot of time, energy, and money to obtain that emotional currency.

More at http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2013-06-17/conflicts-motives-and-ego .