Inner space also arises whenever you let go of the need to emphasize your form-identity. That need is of the ego. It is not a true need. We have already touched briefly upon this. Whenever you relinquish one of these behavior patterns, inner space emerges. You become more truly yourself. To the ego it will seem as if you were losing yourself, but the opposite is the case. Jesus already taught that you need to lose yourself to find yourself. Whenever you let go of one of these patterns, you de-emphasize who you are on the level of form and who you are beyond form emerges more fully. You become less, so you can be more.

Here are some ways in which people unconsciously try to emphasize their form-identity. If you are alert enough, you may be able to detect some of the unconscious patterns within yourself:

• demanding recognition for something you did and getting angry or upset if you don't get it

• trying to get attention by talking about your problems

• the story of your illnesses, or making a scene

• giving your opinion when nobody has asked for it and it makes no difference to the situation

• being more concerned with how the other person sees you than with the other person, which is to say, using other people for egoic reflection or as ego enhancers

• trying to make an impression on others through possessions, knowledge, good looks, status, physical strength, and so on

• bringing about temporary ego inflation through angry reaction against something or someone

• taking things personally, feeling offended

• making yourself right and others wrong through futile mental or verbal complaining

• wanting to be seen, or to appear important