Overcoming Ego

Every morning I wake up, walk like a zombie to the bathroom, wipe the miniature slugs away from my eyes, splash cool water on my face, and look at this strange guy in the mirror--me.

Some questions I ask myself include: Are you the person you want to be? Are you working on something you love? Are you taking risks? If the answer is no too many days in a row, it's time to change something.

But I struggle with the idea of ego. Ego is the voice that wants validation, recognition, and compensation. It's the desire to be loved, to matter, to find meaning in the seemingly uncrackable code of life. Do you know the key?

Overcoming ego doesn't mean you have to adopt the lifestyle of a monk. You don't have to renounce society or free yourself from possessions. I quite like my things and I hope finding happiness with myself means I don't have neglect their existence, even if they are meaningless. Acknowledge your inner voice and move on.

You don't have to submit to ego. You can listen to the internal banter and continue as normal. Problem is, when ego gets the best of us, we are usually the last to know. Is it egotistical to be self-conscious about having an ego? I'm not sure.

I think the single-most helpful tool for overcoming ego is remaining grateful. Be proud of your accomplishments. Share your successes, they inspire the rest of us. I love looking at beautiful homes, even if they are excessive, they provide physical proof that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. Gratitude is the secret for not allowing ego to affect our logic.

You don't have to run from ego to overcome its forcefield. Am I right, or am I right? Only joking. Stay grateful.

When Gifts Meet Passion

When gifts meet passion, something magical happens. It's hard to articulate, but when you see it, you know. Michael Jackson. Pablo Picasso. Steve Jobs. The Beatles.

What does it take to change the world? A little bit of talent and a whole lot of passion. When the two combine, it's like an explosion. The force of each individually is powerful, but when you put them both together, it's magic. An unstoppable force.

You often hear someone say, "they were born to do that". But it's not that easy. Just because you're seven feet tall does not qualify you for the NBA. You need to put in the hours.

Don't wait for a bolt of lightning to strike the ground and spell out your talent in a fiery message. Instead, follow your passions. You're much more likely to discover a gift by starting with what you already enjoy doing in the first place. If the talent is missing from the equation, you still have a good time. For example, I love singing--but I probably will keep my day job and leave the singing to The Beatles. This doesn't make me dislike singing, it just means the talent and passion are not a good match. If I was really passionate, I would practice every day until I felt comfortable enough to perform. Instead, I focus my passion elsewhere.

It's a privilege to watch someone with talent doing what they love. Not only do they amaze and share their gifts, but they inspire us through their accomplishments. "That could be me someday," I think to myself, even if its not true. It's the possibility that we love.

So many people stress about finding their calling. We want to discover "what we're good at." I believe you will be best at what you love doing most. If it's baking cookies instead of singing or basketball, then do that! Your passion will show, and your talent will be rewarded. No one bakes cookies quite like you, with all the love poured in to the ingredients. That's the magic. That's the power.

Not only will you know, we will know. It's obvious. You give permission for everyone else to follow their passion. You can show us how. Start with what you love.