Put Off the Natural Man

The Reframe

Before: "My ego is me, and it must be defended." After: "The natural man is an enemy to God — my ego is something I put off, not something I protect."

Scripture Anchor

"For the natural man is an enemy to God … and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man … and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient." — Mosiah 3:19 (Book of Mormon) In plain terms: The untrained, defensive, self-protecting part of you — scripture calls it the "natural man" — isn't your true self. It's a layer you can take off, like a coat.

Adams calls the ego your enemy: it stops you from asking for help, admitting mistakes, and changing your mind, because it would rather be right than growing. Mosiah 3:19 made the same diagnosis over two thousand years earlier, and adds two gifts. First, a separation: the prideful reflex is the natural man, not the real you — so overriding it isn't self-betrayal, it's undressing. Second, help: you don't white-knuckle it alone; you "yield" to promptings that pull you toward humility.

Notice what replaces the ego in the verse: the traits of a child — teachable, quick to apologize, unembarrassed to ask questions. That's not weakness. It's the posture of the fastest learners on earth.

How to Apply

When you feel the sting of being wrong, name it: "that's the natural man, not me"
Practice ego-override reps: ask the "dumb" question, apologize first, say "I don't know"
Treat humility as a skill with reps, not a personality trait you lack
In conflict, ask: am I defending truth, or just defending myself?

Mantra

"I put off the natural man. I'd rather grow than be right."

Original Reframe

Adapted from Your Ego Is Your Enemy (Scott Adams, Reframe Your Brain).