Donald Adams
September 26, 2023
What is ‘EGO’
According to the Dictionary Cambridge, ego is the idea or opinion that you have of yourself, esp. the level of your ability and intelligence, and your importance as a person.
An “egotist” is someone who focuses too much on themselves and ignores others.
History has seen individuals who resisted their egos, avoided the spotlight, and prioritized higher goals over personal recognition.
No matter where you are or what you’re doing, your biggest enemy is often within you: your ego. Let’s get rid of it with these 7 easy ways.
1. Keep Learning
A genuine learner is like a sponge, absorbing their surroundings, critically evaluating themselves, and continually striving to enhance their knowledge. They serve as their own teacher and critic, leaving no room for ego.
Learning is hindered when you believe you already know everything. Improvement becomes elusive if you’re overly confident and unwilling to ask questions. Embracing feedback, even when it’s harsh, is a vital life skill. We should actively seek out negative feedback, even when others tell us we’re doing well.
Our most dangerous flaw is pretending to know everything, as it hinders our growth.
Today, books are more affordable than ever, courses are often free, and technology has made teachers accessible. There are no excuses for not pursuing education.
2. Speak Less
Silence—a conscious choice to stay out of conversations and thrive without seeking validation—is a hallmark of confidence and strength.
Talking drains our energy.
Work and idle chatter don’t mix. They are incompatible.
The more challenging the task, the more uncertain the outcome, the more costly excessive talk becomes, and the further we distance ourselves from real accountability.
Close that gap in the middle of your face—the one that can drain your life force. Observe what unfolds. Notice how much you improve.
3. Pursue Truth
The ego erases what truly matters and substitutes it with what’s unimportant.
We cannot make the world better if we don’t comprehend it or ourselves.
By shedding ego, we uncover reality. In its place, we find unwavering humility and genuine confidence.
Without an honest evaluation of our abilities relative to others, what we have isn’t confidence but self-deception. How can we connect with others’ needs—because we’ve lost touch with our own—if we don’t understand ourselves? This hinders our ability to reach, inspire, or lead people effectively.
4. Find Your Purpose
When your purpose extends beyond yourself—to achieve something or prove something to yourself—everything becomes simultaneously simpler and more challenging. It’s simpler because you now understand your objectives and priorities. Simpler because you don’t have to compromise. Yet, it’s more challenging because every opportunity, no matter how tempting or rewarding, must be assessed against strict criteria: Does it align with my purpose? Does it enable me to do what’s necessary? Am I being self-centred or selfless?
What is your purpose? Why are you here?
What do I want to achieve in life?
What purpose does it serve?
What principles guide my decisions?
Do I want to conform to the norm, or do I aspire to do something unique?
5. Embrace Discomfort
Becoming the person you truly aspire to be often requires extended periods of obscurity, grappling with complex ideas or dilemmas.
You can choose to evolve or resist it.
6. Learn from Successful People
To achieve greatness and sustain it, successful individuals must possess a deep understanding of the past, the present, and the future within their field. They must grasp the core principles of their domain and the broader context. Continuous learning is essential. Each of us needs to take on the roles of our own teachers, mentors, and critics.
A philosopher must delve into their subject matter and acknowledge how little they truly know.
Anyone can gain wisdom from personal experiences. The real skill is gleaning insights from the experiences of others.
7. Focus on Action
Rather than pretending that we’re living an extraordinary narrative, our attention should remain fixed on taking action and doing so with utmost excellence. We should reject the false allure of recognition and stay committed to the work that brought us to this point.
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