Going for Enlightenment

So, as I blogged earlier, I am trying to read Eckhart Tolle's New Earth and trying to follow Oprah's online class/book club about same book. It is a good book, albeit somewhat deep and a difficult read (and I haven't been able to keep up with the classes - I have to resort to downloads that I'll listen to later). But it's forcing me to examine areas of my life and determine how I can change to improve my happiness quotient. So far (through 2.5 chapters) it's making sense to me. Something in chapter 3 is sticking with me. The chapter is about Ego and what makes it tick. The passage is "Being Right, Making Wrong." I'll paraphrase:

Complaining and faultfinding strengthen the ego's sense of separateness on which the ego's survival depends. (Being separate isn't the goal - everyone and everything being one with Spirit is the goal).
These give the ego a feeling of superiority on which it thrives. (No one or thing is superior)
When you complain, by implication you are right and the person or situation you complain about or react to is wrong.
Nothing strengthens the ego more than being right.
For you to be right, you need someone or something else to be wrong.
The ego loves to make wrong in order to be right.
You need to make others wrong in order to get a stronger sense of who you are.
Being right places you in a position of imagined moral superiority in relation to the person or situation that is being judged and found wanting.
It is that sense of superiority the ego craves and through which it enhances itself. (This is the root of many problems)

I used to do a lot of complaining. I can totally relate to this. Particularly in jobs and working situations and it's how I best related to many people - friendships were built around complaining and making others wrong. And I was miserable! Sad, unhappy, crabby, totally miserable. But I guess with age and a mom who constantly tries to look out for my well-being by offering up lots of suggestions that I try new uplifting and healing things and books like Tolle's I am coming to realize that complaining isn't helping me achieve my ultimate goal. And beyond my own personal happiness is working to make my family peaceful and contributing my fair share towards some form of world peace.

There are truths, some universal and some just my own - things I like and don't like, things that I can stand for and some I can't. But I am going to focus on trying not to making others wrong. When something or someone isn't compatible with my sense of peace or a roadblock on the path to enlightenment and when I start feeling my ego taking over, I will simply remove myself without judgement (or at least try not to complain). I can't say I will be able to break old habits right away, but I will do my best. Notice to all my friends - feel free to point out my complaining if I fall into my old ways.

One other quote we heard on 'Akeelah and the Bee' last night - I hope my kids can take it to heart one day:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." (Marianne Williamson)