Google’s dictionary defines “ego” as “an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others.” In other words, ego makes you feel inappropriately better than other people. For example, if you walked up to a person and said that you did something that they might like and they were to respond saying “Are you serious? Mine is so much better than yours,” this would mean they have a huge ego. Ego can destroy teams and relationships as you probably saw above.
Ego won’t just destroy others, it will also destroy you. If you have a big ego, you will learn to be more and more of disrespectful. Also, people will not want to be around you much because all you’re going to do is complement yourself. Another thing that will happen to you if you keep growing your ego is that you will never be happy. You will always try to make yourself better than someone else. You can never say that something is good or that you really like an idea. No, you will always try to put down others.
If you put ego aside, wonders will happen for you. People will enjoy your presence. People will want to share things with you. More importantly, by setting your ego aside, you will be so much happier. You will always feel more supported by others. You’ll also get that good feeling that comes from helping make someone else feel happy. Your mind won’t be clouded with thoughts of just yourself. Your mind will be full of thoughts of others.
A way to do this is to have the trait of humility. Humility makes you courteous and respectful. In Matthew 5:5, within the King James Bible, it says “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” An example of humility, is saying “You first buddy!” when you are entering a door or doing an activity. Being humble will help balance your ego by putting other people in front of yourself.
So don’t allow ego to get in your way because it’s just going to bring you down. Scientist Nathaniel Bronner Jr. says “Ego has a voracious appetite, the more you feed it, the hungrier it gets.” I think he is so right.
My Leadership Page: Leader: Me!
Another terrific post, Mark! =)
ReplyDeleteHi Mark... Great post!
ReplyDeleteJust to add, we develop ego so as to operate in a world of form. So I'm not too sure that getting rid of it is a good idea. What I am sure about is working to refine and hone it so that it serves as a channel for the best in us to manifest in the world.