The False Self and Habits

The False Self's Role in Default Behavior Patterns

A core teaching in contemplative practices is to become aware of the difference between the influence of our true, divinely-led self on the quality of our presence and actions compared to the influence of our false-self system. Our false-self system developed to satisfy our perceived need for a sense of:

  • control over our environment and emotions
  • security and safety
  • esteem and to affirm our worth for inclusion and belonging

In Benedictine CARE, we apply this understanding of how the false self system develops to help us understand how the false self dominates in creating- and sustaining- our default behavior patterns.

Those go-to habits like eating to alleviate discomfort, eating to appease our desires for instant gratification and pleasure, or trying to perfectly control our lifestyles to finally “feel better” or “feel good enough.”

Contemplative wisdom teachings assure us that action guided by our true selves lead to a presence of love for both others and ourselves, while action taken to try and get away from the intensity of the false self leads to disconnection and despair.

Our Benedictine tradition assures us that it is within the most ordinary of daily moments and choices that we are given this opportunity to turn towards the grace and love of the true self and the divine.

In Benedictine CARE, we practice and experience what it feels like to really try and do this in the sacred slivers of space right before lifestyle choices. We come together to practice our spirituality and to share the experience that putting spirituality first- our intention to let our true selves lead– has on established behaviors that, to-date, we thought we had to fix for ourselves, by ourselves.

Please join us. Enroll today for immediate access to Chapter 1: Stability of Intention.

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