I haven’t been feeling like myself lately, but that’s OK.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become better at recognizing what lies at the root of my tendencies, reactions, and emotions. (Or at least I like to believe that I do.) One thing I’ve noticed about myself is that I’m quick to hold onto thoughts of failure, which means that my ego is in action.
But I also know that our egos falsely portray themselves as images of who we are.
When we fail, our ego doesn’t just tell us that we failed. It also establishes that we are failures. However, the notion that we’re failures isn’t true because nothing outside of ourselves has power on its own. We are neither our egos nor our failures.
It’s not that we’re afraid of failing. We actually fear the emotions that come with failure, like anger, sorrow, and regret. We fear this response because it breaks down however egos define our identities.
Therefore, when we encounter failure, it’s important for us to feel each emotion in order to move past it. So no matter what you feel in a moment of “failure,” hold onto it, dissect it, and let it go. Ignore your ego when it tells you to hold onto those feelings of failure forever.
You need to remember that you aren’t a failure, and what your ego says doesn’t define you either. You are you, and failure is just something that you need to work through.
Whether you succeed or fail, treat all of your emotions the same. After all, they’re equal. Emotions are just our reactions to circumstances, nothing more, nothing less.
When you face failure or criticism, make sure to stay mindful of your thoughts. Take each experience as a lesson, and learn from it. Be comfortable with moments of discomfort, and be willing to lose yourself in order to find yourself.
After all, we’re all doing our best, even when our ego tells us otherwise. And if you never lose yourself or shed your ego, you won’t be able to find your true self.
So don’t let the voice in your head get the best of you. Hone your ability to identify where your thoughts are coming from and why. Shed your ego, and be willing to learn from every experience along the way, both good and bad.
Featured Photo by DANNY G on Unsplash
