Today, I want to think a little about the “ego,” a topic I frequently discuss here. It is something that exists equally within everyone’s mind. Every day, we challenge ourselves with various goals, whether it is going on a diet or earning a new qualification. Interestingly, it is this very ego that both pushes us forward and holds us back. When it comes to tasks that seem less critical—such as keeping a diary or writing a blog post like I do—the ego almost always interferes. “I’m too sleepy,” “I want to eat,” “I want to play.” Our ego is an absolute genius at coming up with excuses to indulge itself.
However, if our desire to achieve a challenge is strong enough, we can overcome these immediate, small temptations. That is how we reach our goals. In this sense, the ego acts as a troublesome brake, but at the same time, it serves as a powerful accelerator.
To visualize this, imagine a graph where the vertical axis represents “Results” and the horizontal axis represents the “Strength of the Ego.” What appears is a U-shaped curve, where both ends are high and the center dips down. When the ego is strong, the power of desire drives us to achieve results. Conversely, in the center of the graph—where we give in to the excuses made by our instincts—no results are achieved. But what about the far-left end, where the “ego is at zero”? People in this zone are completely liberated from the ego. Because they face no internal interference, they can achieve incredible results with extraordinary focus. Looking at it this way, it might seem that we should simply choose to either maximize the ego or reduce it to zero. However, reality is not that simple.
A strong ego, due to its sheer power, often tends to attack and exclude others. While that energy may be beneficial for personal success, it can easily become a raw threat to the person standing next to you. It goes without saying that we do not live in this world alone. Achieving results through a strong ego is synonymous with working with intense attachment and obsession. That very attachment brings about success, and yet, that same attachment attacks others. To attain the results we want, which side of the graph should we aim for?