This morning I thought about the part of the psychic apparatus called the super-ego. I thought about how I lived with a misconception about what this meant. I thought about how a correct understanding of this concept might be elemental to effective self-control.

Superego
Synonyms:
alter ego, alterum, better self, censor, coconscious, collective unconscious, conscience, conscientiousness, conscious self, death instinct, ego-id conflict, ego ideal, ethical self, foreconscious, grace, inner arbiter, inward monitor, moral censor, humble self, other self, psychic apparatus, social conscience, twinge of conscience, vital impulse, voice of conscience, moral sense, sense of right and wrong, scruples

Anthropomorphic
# Anthropomorphism is the attribution of uniquely human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings, natural and supernatural phenomena, material states and objects or abstract concepts. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphic

# Having the form of a man; given human attributes
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/anthropomorphic

Theriomorphic
having the form of a beast
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/theriomorphic

I thought about how the steps are the process of building a better ego, superego (conscience) that is.

I thought about how the Gospel account of Jesus and the law expert.

I had to kill some time between taking my wife to the dentist and my youngest daughter's school so I got to go to the doughnut shop and have one on one time with her. Thanks be to God for this joyful interlude.

At mid-morning I got into a heated discussion with my wife about her attitude toward particular things and I informed her that she doesn't like to be told no. I was thinking that she doesn't allow herself to have a strong inner arbiter. As the words rolled out of my mouth I knew that at some level I was being self-centered. I guess at the very least I was motivated to tell her this because I was reacting to my limited vision and impatience to allow God to work.

In the afternoon I had to deal with a discipline issue with my son and some question of his trustworthiness. God helped me to stay calm and objective and sort through what was real and what wasn't. I was able to execute appropriate discipline and offer guidance. Thanks be to God for wisdom.

I was able to spend some time this afternoon working on my son's BMX bike. I am beginning to develop a new hobby.

This evening I got to go to an AA meeting. After the meeting I went outside and talked to friends. A good friend of mine and mentor in the program was in an emphatic discussion with another person about the daily inventory. His emphasis at the time was something that I have heard from him frequently that he doesn't believe the daily ledger should be written. He cited some of the common reasons and his objections, mainly that it is untenable. This got me thinking about it enough to write about it.

Thanks be to God for this day.