Comments on: The Art of Shedding the Alter Ego http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/ Taking Mind, Body and Spirit to the Next Level Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:01:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Jan Holden http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-111838 Jan Holden Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:43:15 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-111838 My friend just sent me a link to this article, i'm blown away! Great article. My friend just sent me a link to this article, i’m blown away! Great article.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-85059 Stephen Hopson Sat, 14 Aug 2010 12:16:52 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-85059 Chris, I'm glad nature brought you to this article to help you do what your inner spirit is asking you to do. Yes, it's painful but it'll be worth it in the end. It's painful because your intellect (ego) doesn't want to let those things go. At least that's been my experience. Thanks for sharing. Chris, I’m glad nature brought you to this article to help you do what your inner spirit is asking you to do. Yes, it’s painful but it’ll be worth it in the end. It’s painful because your intellect (ego) doesn’t want to let those things go. At least that’s been my experience. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Chris http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-84965 Chris Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:54:18 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-84965 Well. Your post is hitting pretty close to home for me. Ouch. I've been puzzling over how I define myself and how that definition doesn't seem to be the one anyone else is using. And the dissonance of it has been bugging me. Mostly because I want everyone else to see me through the lens of my "past accomplishments" and that's ridiculous. I may have tossed my trophies years ago, but I've still been dragging them around in phantom form. Time to do some painful cleaning of my subconscious closet, I guess. Well. Your post is hitting pretty close to home for me. Ouch.
I’ve been puzzling over how I define myself and how that definition doesn’t seem to be the one anyone else is using. And the dissonance of it has been bugging me. Mostly because I want everyone else to see me through the lens of my “past accomplishments” and that’s ridiculous. I may have tossed my trophies years ago, but I’ve still been dragging them around in phantom form.
Time to do some painful cleaning of my subconscious closet, I guess.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-84880 Stephen Hopson Thu, 12 Aug 2010 02:20:48 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-84880 Stephanie - haha. Well, that's funny - "You're only as good as your last movie." Very clever! Here's an idea but I don't know if it'll work. Just clean up after yourself and show how happy you are with a clean room and see if that rubs off on the others in your household. When they see you tossing out old trophies, ribbons and so forth, see how they react. I'll bet it'll be hilarious. Stephanie – haha. Well, that’s funny – “You’re only as good as your last movie.” Very clever! Here’s an idea but I don’t know if it’ll work. Just clean up after yourself and show how happy you are with a clean room and see if that rubs off on the others in your household. When they see you tossing out old trophies, ribbons and so forth, see how they react. I’ll bet it’ll be hilarious.

]]> By: Stephanie NYC Gal http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-84132 Stephanie NYC Gal Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:06:21 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-84132 I sincerely wish more people were as decisive as you in de-cluttering their homes. My family is notorious for being pack rats. As they say in Hollywood - "You're only as good as your last movie." That echoes the same theme you described. These tangible material things do not define who you are. That simple statement can release many of us from the shackles of trying to cling onto meaningless items. Thanks for a great article and lesson! I sincerely wish more people were as decisive as you in de-cluttering their homes. My family is notorious for being pack rats. As they say in Hollywood – “You’re only as good as your last movie.” That echoes the same theme you described. These tangible material things do not define who you are. That simple statement can release many of us from the shackles of trying to cling onto meaningless items. Thanks for a great article and lesson!

]]> By: tom h http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-78806 tom h Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:05:42 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-78806 I will like to agree and disagree with you. Firstly, I appreciate the fact that you took up the issue and decided to actually write something on it. Its a very difficult topic, and slipping even a centimeter makes it difficult to convey what you want to. But I find you being too trivial. You lay too much stress on what you were and what you wish to be. While that is a very common thing to do, it is also a big error. Looking for respite and solutions is okay, but more than outside help, you need to look into your own self. Its not about what makes up your identity, its about what you make of whatever you get. I feel you are too stuck on your identity. Even in the act of dropping away your trophies, you are not giving up, but rather giving in to something new. I feel you should loosen up and let go of anything you have, and concentrate more on right now, even as you read this comment. I will like to agree and disagree with you. Firstly, I appreciate the fact that you took up the issue and decided to actually write something on it. Its a very difficult topic, and slipping even a centimeter makes it difficult to convey what you want to. But I find you being too trivial. You lay too much stress on what you were and what you wish to be. While that is a very common thing to do, it is also a big error. Looking for respite and solutions is okay, but more than outside help, you need to look into your own self. Its not about what makes up your identity, its about what you make of whatever you get. I feel you are too stuck on your identity. Even in the act of dropping away your trophies, you are not giving up, but rather giving in to something new. I feel you should loosen up and let go of anything you have, and concentrate more on right now, even as you read this comment.

]]> By: Gary Hatfield http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-75863 Gary Hatfield Wed, 19 May 2010 13:21:15 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-75863 I just came across your blog today. WOW, I`m really impressed with the content. Keep up the work Stephen Hopson. I just came across your blog today. WOW, I`m really impressed with the content.
Keep up the work Stephen Hopson.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-52942 Stephen Hopson Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:32:44 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-52942 @<a href="http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/#comment-50987"> CFI</a>: This reminds me of the phrase that goes something like this: "There are always second chances." BTW, sorry I'm not "feeding you fast enough" with new articles. I know I've not written one since last year. I'm in grad school now and hardly have time to write articles that often require many edits before I allow it to be published. The good news is I'm graduating in June of this year (2010) so I will have more time to get back to the art of writing again. @ CFI:

This reminds me of the phrase that goes something like this: “There are always second chances.”

BTW, sorry I’m not “feeding you fast enough” with new articles. I know I’ve not written one since last year. I’m in grad school now and hardly have time to write articles that often require many edits before I allow it to be published. The good news is I’m graduating in June of this year (2010) so I will have more time to get back to the art of writing again.

]]> By: Stephen Hopson http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-52934 Stephen Hopson Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:20:34 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-52934 @<a href="http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/#comment-52821"> Stetson</a>: Congratulations! So glad you took action and did what felt right. Obviously you did the right thing by shedding the past and moved on by taking symbolic action, which was getting rid of those trophies, in order to move forward. Awesome! Thanks for the affirmation that I, too, made the right choice. :) @ Stetson:

Congratulations! So glad you took action and did what felt right. Obviously you did the right thing by shedding the past and moved on by taking symbolic action, which was getting rid of those trophies, in order to move forward. Awesome! Thanks for the affirmation that I, too, made the right choice. :)

]]> By: Stetson http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2009/06/16/the-art-of-shedding-the-alter-ego/comment-page-1/#comment-52821 Stetson Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:39:25 +0000 http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/?p=1458#comment-52821 When I was a teenager and college student, I won a pile of trophies, from both performance and academic pursuits. One of the trophies was the largest the school awarded. It was called the All Crusader Award given to the graduating student who displayed what was deemed at that time all round excellence. Like your closet trophies, my trophies were taking up space, and were actually a large part of how I viewed myself. Then it was time to get married. I had fallen in love with a wonderful woman (now 30 years married to her), and immediately after the wedding she asked me to get rid of my past lives, so that we could march into the future together. So, I did. I took all of my trophies, filled up a couple 64 gallon drums and set them out on the sidewalk. I can't deny that when I heard the truck load those trophies as junk into their vehicle I had some feeling of sadness, but that quickly passed. With that, Linda and I made a vow not to live in the past, but in the present. That has become 30 years of glorious presents, and I am so grateful that I made that choice, giving our relationship a brand new start. So, I understand what you were going through with your trophies. And, you too made the right decision. Thank God for the wisdom of our respective wives. Congratulations. Stetson ToysPeriod is a leading online shop specializing in <a href="http://www.toysperiod.com">lego sets</a> and model railroad equipment. When I was a teenager and college student, I won a pile of trophies, from both performance and academic pursuits.

One of the trophies was the largest the school awarded. It was called the All Crusader Award given to the graduating student who displayed what was deemed at that time all round excellence.

Like your closet trophies, my trophies were taking up space, and were actually a large part of how I viewed myself.

Then it was time to get married. I had fallen in love with a wonderful woman (now 30 years married to her), and immediately after the wedding she asked me to get rid of my past lives, so that we could march into the future together.

So, I did. I took all of my trophies, filled up a couple 64 gallon drums and set them out on the sidewalk.

I can’t deny that when I heard the truck load those trophies as junk into their vehicle I had some feeling of sadness, but that quickly passed.

With that, Linda and I made a vow not to live in the past, but in the present. That has become 30 years of glorious presents, and I am so grateful that I made that choice, giving our relationship a brand new start.

So, I understand what you were going through with your trophies.

And, you too made the right decision.

Thank God for the wisdom of our respective wives.

Congratulations.

Stetson

ToysPeriod is a leading online shop specializing in lego sets and model railroad equipment.

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