EGO can keep you from achieving, or cripple you so you can’t achieve.

On my morning walk I was thinking about an interesting thing I might like to do, and then about the reasons to do it, or not. One of the things that popped into my mind was “Oh, I could do that if I lived in that town where nobody knew me, but not here.”

The idea of interest wasn’t bad or shameful, it just doesn’t match my current identity—how I THINK people view me. So my Lizard Brain (Thank you Seth Godin for the term) was signaling that I should preserve my identity and not take the risk of being seen in a totally different light. Message to self: NOBODY cares about your image but you. NOBODY really thinks and pays attention that much. If you think they do, you are an ego-maniac.

A friend of mine found himself in debt because he sponsored a big name professional athletic event. I asked why and he quickly replied “I wanted to feel good about myself. I thought if my name was in lights beside the team’s name it would mean something.” He now knows it doesn’t. But his ego took him on an expensive trip that he’s still paying for, and it is in the way of some other things he’d really like to do.

So, I’ve confessed. And I’ve outed my friend. How about you?

Is your EGO in the way?