“How many rest within this sphere of influence? Twenty, fifty, one hundred? And how many times is this multiplied by each of them? And yet this is but a fraction of who your specialness influences. In truth, your specialness affects everyone. “ (ACOL, C:15.6)
This quotation doesn’t say so, but we all know that specialness is not something to be supported. Our belief in specialness apparently reaches out to include everyone, ultimately. This is because we influence each other, and when one of us finds a home in specialness, we are leading others to look to their egos as well.
How can we resolve this dilemma? First and foremost, drop egotistical ideas from the mind. The heart will lead rightly in this endeavor, if we listen to it. Second, know (intellectually also) that specialness is not the way reality really is. Reality created all of us as equals to each other. Our heart will lead rightly about this as well. Third, as soon as the ego or the idea of specialness enters the mind, resolve to abort the experience. This is not as hard as it sounds, though we may fail in the beginning.
Gently turn aside from the ego and its specialness. Know that we have never been made happy by feelings of specialness: We knew moments of artificial joy, but these were followed by times of deep despair. And we can expect this dynamic to continue, if we do not reject specialness once and for all.
The way back is made easier, as always, when we listen to our heart. The heart knows that we wouldn’t be other than we are, that regardless of what another has that we think we want, this is a mirage. We are created to be one with all, one with God, with others, one with our Self. And specialness intrudes on this divine plan.
Chip away at the desire for specialness a little at a time. Soon the idea will seem very foreign to us indeed.
And we will emerge from the darkness into the light.
If we knew who we really are, there would be no need to feel special.