Questioning Success.
When your mind and heart are truly open abundance will flow to you effortlessly and easily.
Question:
I’m in my late 20’s and started a spiritual journey shortly after entering the corporate world 5 years ago. Since then, I’ve read countless books on the topic of ego, happiness, and spirituality.
My biggest internal conflict seems to be this: Is having a core value of “accomplishment” or “achievement” directly related to the ego?
I’ve always been a high-achiever since a young age, and often cannot tell whether my desire for accomplishment is from childhood conditioning or if it’s truly to serve the overhanging purpose of helping others and financial freedom.
My real life example for this conflict looks like this, in case you may be asking “WHY do you want to achieve?”:
I’ve finally decided to leave the corporate world in the next 8 months and pursue full-time the real estate business I’ve been cultivating on the side for 3 years. This real estate small business will allow me freedom to live each day with much more flexibility of time for my ultimate goals: to someday be a mom working from home, and further pursue my writing career (at a pace without pressure).
The pleasure I receive from the real estate business is mainly the ability to generate income and the flexibility offers for my future family–is this acting out of ego?
Response:
Business success seems to come naturally to you and there was nothing in your letter to indicate that you are trying to prove anything to yourself or anyone else with your achievements, so this leads me to think that success and accomplishment are just expressions of your dharma. When the ego drives one to succeed, there is usually a tell-tale feeling of fear and desperation underneath it that is telling you if you don’t succeed, you won’t survive. Enjoy your natural talents and continue to share the benefits of it with those you love.
Love,
Deepak
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Questioning Success.
When your mind and heart are truly open abundance will flow to you effortlessly and easily.
Question:
I'm in my late 20's and started a spiritual journey shortly after entering the corporate world 5 years ago. Since then, I've read countless books on the topic of ego, happiness, and spirituality.
My biggest internal conflict seems to be this: Is having a core value of "accomplishment" or "achievement" directly related to the ego?
I've always been a high-achiever since a young age, and often cannot tell whether my desire for accomplishment is from childhood conditioning or if it's truly to serve the overhanging purpose of helping others and financial freedom.
My real life example for this conflict looks like this, in case you may be asking “WHY do you want to achieve?”:
I've finally decided to leave the corporate world in the next 8 months and pursue full-time the real estate business I've been cultivating on the side for 3 years. This real estate small business will allow me freedom to live each day with much more flexibility of time for my ultimate goals: to someday be a mom working from home, and further pursue my writing career (at a pace without pressure).
The pleasure I receive from the real estate business is mainly the ability to generate income and the flexibility offers for my future family–is this acting out of ego?
Answer:
Business success seems to come naturally to you and there was nothing in your letter to indicate that you are trying to prove anything to yourself or anyone else with your achievements, so this leads me to think that success and accomplishment are just expressions of your dharma. When the ego drives one to succeed, there is usually a tell-tale feeling of fear and desperation underneath it that is telling you if you don’t succeed, you won’t survive. Enjoy your natural talents and continue to share the benefits of it with those you love.
Love,
Deepak
Many years ago I lost my job to company lay-offs. It was very hard for me to find a job afterward and I was living off my savings and 401k. I became very sick which was unforseen to me having been unusually healthy all my life. It was my mistake that I was shopping around and researching health insurance at the time. But the lack of income and the now uncovered medical bills threw me into a debt I could not see myself recovering from. I eventually got back on my feet, but I admit I still carry a fear of that situation ever arising again. I enjoy success not because I feel better than someone one or more important. There`s no limelight feeling for me, but the enjoyment is directly related to knowing that my family will be provided for and that I was able to help another person. But underneath it is a fear that drives me to succeed, a fear that I want to avoid my family ever having to experience what I felt. So my question is; Is this negative ego and how should I approach this in my life?
It is ok to have ego - a little bit of ego is needed to present you to the world. It is ego at play when you say `I achieved`/ `I accomplished`- when you transcend your ego, you let go this sense of achievement, you will get to `I do nothing, this has come about through me` - well you do not have to be like this now... The following attitudes will help you with the spiritual process: 1. Every job well done is a help for someone; 2. Anything you do/build, do/build with love - Love for everyone involved and yourself inclusive; Love you,
Fear/misunderstanding of "the ego" seems to be keeping people cut off from their joy...