I summon the definition of “ego” from the reputable depths of Wikipedia. My university tutors would be so proud.
“Ego” is a Latin and Greek word meaning “I” and is often used to mean the “self”, “identity”, and other related concepts.” – Wikipedia
For most I believe that definition seems a little vague and it’s one of those words in which you know what it is, but have a difficult time explaining exactly what it is. We all have one, but I’m sure one time or another we have heard “Oh, don’t they have a big ego?” and we generally associate that as being a bad or unattractive thing. No one likes that person who is so up themselves that they can see their own food being digested. We associate people with “egos” as having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. Keeping in mind we all have an ego. It’s just they vary in size from person to person, and depending on the situation can be helpful or detrimental.
Now having an ego, can be a dangerous thing, especially when it’s so inflated that you start levitating. Let’s take the gym for example (because that’s where I learn EVERYTHING). There are two types of egos that can be witnessed.
The first are the “wankers”. I’m not even going to sugar coat it because we have probably all seen these guys, whether it be in the enclosure of the gymnasium, or out in the wild public. They wear their egos for the world to see. The wanker is fairly easy to spot. Just observe its walk. The wanker walk is characterised by a fully erect spine, an extremely proud chest which is further advertised by the pulling back of the shoulders. This is accompanied by the exaggerated lateral arm flair which would assimilate a mammal who thought it had wings but had no idea how to flap them. Now add a standard strutted walk and you have the wanker walk. These are the guys who thing they are king shit. Who think they are cock of the walk and that they are the greatest thing since squats and oats.
The second are the “humbles”. I call them this because they come from humble beginnings. They just want to build some muscle, or get their abs showing. More often than not they are the guys who are the newer of the gym goers. They are just doing their thing, getting comfortable with the gym and are getting a taste of the lifting experience. But even the humble humbles are not immune to the aura of the ego. These are the guys to whom wish to speak to. Now let’s say you are doing your thing. You have your lifting plan, and are working the plan like a champ. Next thing you see (and hear) are the wildebeest moans of a wanker, throwing around some ungodly weight that you have trouble even counting to.
You look at his weight, and then back at your weight. You look at his weight again, and back to your weight. Where are you? You’re in your ego, and it’s playing tennis, back and forth. Do you play with your “childs” weight, or do you upgrade to “man” weight? “I can lift that” you tell yourself as you approach the weight. Your hands are shaking but your ego tells you it’s from excitement, so you fear nothing for you are a man. You grab and pick the weight up. Two tickets to Gainsville you tell yourself. Look again, the tickets are now a deliciously regrettable injury. You my friend, have just injured your back and are out of the game for 6 weeks minimum. Plenty of time for your ego to recover from the stitches it acquired from its laughing fit.
Light weight baby!
Now I myself am guilty of being a “humble” at one point or another. It was not until I injured myself that the phrase “check your ego at the door” really hit home. Since then, I stick to my routine and do not lift beyond what I know I can lift. I don’t care if Egosaurus Rex is lifting the entire gym up, or if the obligatory dolled up female gym bunny who can wear a pair of yoga pants to the absolute limit walks past. I stick to what I can do and do it well.
Let’s apply this information to the real world.
Now remember everyone has an ego, it’s just some people’s egos are the size of an earthworm, and others are the size of the Earth. Becuase the ego isn’t a “physical” thing does not mean it canot have consequenccens to your everyday life. Your ego might be hurting you without you even knowing it. It might be hurting your chances at a job promotion. Or your chances with that girl or guy you like. It might be hurting friendships because there is not enough room for you and your ego. People can pick out those who they think have egos the size of Mars in an instant and they are going to treat you in different ways according to their “ego meters”. Now without you even saying or acting, you are closing doors and opportunities without you even realising it. Your potential is being limited. What wonderful life experiences are you missing out on, all because you put yourself so high upon a pedestal. You are no different or better than anyone else. We all breathe the same, we all bleed the same. The only person you should be competing with is yourself. The only person you should be trying to beat today, is the person of yesterday. So for the sake of everyone else, and yourself, perhaps take that ego down a few notches. The world will thank you.
Check that ego at the door dudes and dudettes.
– Sash
Sash Mindflow 