Ego

Where would we be if we were ego free? What could we achieve without our own narrative standing in our own way?

Ego simply means I. It is our viewpoint of the world. It has value. It defines who we believe ourselves to be. But those same advantages can work against us.

As our own world view narrows, as we focus more on “I” and less on “we” the ego grows. But only in our own tiny corner of space. For in reality, our self-importance is just that, self-importance. Allowing the ego to grow only further narrows our world view. The negative feedback loop intensifies.

If you want to win a world championship in sport, or become the next billionaire your ego will probably need to grow and you will likely need to focus on “I” above all else. There is no we when winning is the only goal.

However, if you seek happiness and contentment, a shrinking of the ego may be in order. As counterintuitive as it sounds, nothing makes me feel more at peace than recognizing my utter lack of importance in the universe at large.

There is value in ego. There is value in objective self-awareness. But they exist on a continuum and you may have to choose between the two. What you value determines what works for you but I’ve never heard of anyone on their deathbed wishing they had amassed more stuff. And nothing is a bigger burden to carry through life than an outsized ego. Free yourself of that, and you may just feel free.