I have to admit something I am not proud off. I have done something in the past that I am ashamed of. I covered up something and denied something that I should not have. The stain of this is hard to erase. Someone accused me of being ego driven and I denied it. That’s right I did the unthinkable.
In fact I did it without thinking. When they charged me with being ego driven I took it as a criticism because society had conditioned me to think that way and by sheer indoctrination I denied something I should have proclaimed with virtue. I want you to stop and think about this for a minute. Achievers are often criticized for their ego, but it is the ego that drives people to achieve. Without ego what would you be but a passive bystander waiting to follow the crowd?
Your ego is what allows you to follow up on your perception of your worth. Without it you would think that everyone else’s ideas were as good as your own. While it is possible that others may have good ideas or even brilliant ideas one must also realize when to take a stand and tell someone else they are wrong.
Egoism is the idea that rational people do what is in their own best interest. In fact, it isn’t rational not to behave this way. The road to one’s happiness is enlightened self interest. But society doesn’t want you to learn this. They want you to believe that you have a duty to live for others, that other people’s happiness and welfare is important and your own is not. This is something you cannot allow to taint your thinking. This irrational thought is like a chain around your neck and it will weigh you down and place you in the position of slave to the whims of others.
I have no defense for my own moment of irrationality. When accused that I always thought I was right I denied it. But isn’t it rational that if you believe something that you would think you were right? If you didn’t why would you believe it in the first place? But you see this accusation isn’t simply to assign guilt, it is a clever ploy to get you to play by the rules that others lay down for you. If you accept their accusation by defending yourself you are trapped and you have given up your power.
Nothing would ever be created if someone had never said I think I have a better way, or I have an Idea. The key in this is I. The concept of I, is the concept of ego. It is the concept of individuality. When someone accuses you of acting superior they are attacking your ability to outshine them. The worst thing is for these people to face is that you might indeed be superior to them. But if you fall for their trick, you may end up denying reality itself. The reality being “I am better than you, for the simple fact that I decide to be”
So my penance for this crime against myself and against my self-worth is to share it with others so they will never fall for this insidious tactic used to try and shame those who have ability, those who have knowledge, and those who have ambition. If someone accuses you of acting superior to others do not deny it by social convention, prove it. If someone asks, “why do you think you are right”, know that your knowledge and experience, your dedication to rational thought and logic, have given you the right to say “Because I am!” And if anyone dares suggest you should be ashamed of your ego, ask yourself why you are even listening to that sniveling creature at your feet.
Check out Anthem by Ayn Rand to see the inspiration for this article.
Very impressive.