A conversation with ego about getting my hair cut

Life’s lessons are not always to be found in the big things. If you look closely enough and pay attention, there are profound lessons to be learned in the smallest and most ordinary of things.

Today, for example, I had a little conversation with ego over getting my hair cut.

It went something like this:

– You need a haircut, you don’t look good.
– Ok.
– So, what are you going to do about it?
– Well I’ll book a time at the hairdresser’s then I guess.
– What? Why would you do that?
– Well, you just said my hair needs fixing, didn’t you?
– But can’t you accept yourself just the way you are?
– Sure, I can…
– So why would you get a haircut then?

So obviously, I both need a haircut and I don’t need a haircut.

What to do?

First version:

– Well, I don’t know… Maybe you’re right…
– Yeah. And it’s expensive, too, right?
– Right.. I better spend my money more wisely… Who needs a nice haircut to feel good about themselves anyway?
– That’s right! Good choice!

I almost bought this. But something wasn’t quite right.

So I stopped for a while … Then I realized something.

So I went another round:

– I need a haircut.
– What? Why? Because you need to be accepted?
– No, that’s not it.
– What is it then?
– Well, I’ll get my hair cut because I want to look good.
– So you don’t accept yourself the way you are then?
– Quite the contrary. And you know what?
– What?
– That’s exactly why I’ll get that haircut.

So I got my haircut, and it was the absolute right choice, I’m sure.

What I realized was this: I don’t need a nice haircut to love myself, but I would love a new haircut.

Only ego can spin denying yourself something you truly want into a good thing. Good work ego, you almost had me!

No decision made out of true love can ever be wrong.