How To Free Yourself From Your Ego Like a Stoic
Recognise your ego as a construct
How often do you listen and act on the voice in your head that tells you always to put yourself first and to seek recognition and validation at all costs?
It’s a common struggle for many of us.
The ego is the part of our mind concerned with our self-image and how others perceive us.
It is often driven by a desire for approval, recognition, and success. However, the ego can also lead to negative emotions such as jealousy, envy, resentment, anger, and fear.
The ego can cause us to become overly self-focused, leading us to prioritise our desires and needs over those of others.
Seneca, a Stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome once said, “You live as if you were destined to live forever, no thought of your frailty ever enters your head, of how much time has already gone by you take no heed. You squander time as if you drew from a full and abundant supply, though all the while that day which you bestow on some person or thing is perhaps your last.”
The ego often leads to arrogance, self-righteousness, and a lack of empathy, which can damage our relationships and prevent us from building meaningful connections with others.
