Perhaps you’ve heard (and if you’ve ever been to a yoga class, I assume you have): success in yoga depends on releasing your ego.
EGO!
That word can be so triggering.
No one wants to admit they have one. Everyone has one.
Yes, even you. And, yes, even me.
The question is, can you acknowledge it where it shows up in your life and can you move beyond it? (I guess that’s two questions.)
Here are three tell-tale signs of an overinflated ego, both on and off the mat, and simple techniques to conquer them all.
WARNING!
You may not like this…
🪞 PRIDE
Most people’s concept of ego is to only think of the deadly sin of pride. Yes, pride is a manifestation of ego, but it is not the only one. Not by a mile. But while we’re at it, if you think your skills, knowledge, looks, or status make you in any way better than anyone else, it’s a good idea to step back and remember that we all have our own strengths and challenges in life. You may excel at one thing but you will totally bomb at another. It all equals out and we are all equal.
🫣 FEAR OF FAILURE
Believe it or not, if you have an extreme fear of failure, it is actually an indication of an over-inflated ego. When fear of failure dictates your actions, it means you are being controlled by the need to be perfect and to always be right. Good news: failure teaches us our best lessons.
Failure is something that should actually be celebrated because it takes us closer to success.
Similarly, if your tendency is to give up when things get rough, that can be the deadly sin of sloth. Or ego. Giving up on a challenging task protects your ego because you can’t fail at what you don’t try. Remember this: when the going gets tough, the ego-free get going! So, take those risks! Explore those opportunities! Go for those dreams! The worst that will happen is you learn a lesson. The best that will happen…well, the possibilities are endless!
😳 FEAR OF SUCCESS
Yes, you read that right. This one is crazy, but have you ever bet against yourself? Insisted to the world that you could not do something? Guess what? When you fail at that thing, you prove yourself correct. And THAT is a win for your fragile ego.
The antidote for this one is quite simple. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself fully, completely and even against all odds. Remember: success is a good thing!
Oh! And one more thing…
Don’t compare yourself harshly to others. This may seem like humility, but any time you compare yourself to others (positively or negatively), you are doubling down on your ego. In fact, the very meaning of ego is that which separates you from others. Even when you judge yourself as being less than someone else, that’s actually your ego talking.
Okay…that’s a lot of harsh reality!
Here’s something beautiful to level the playing field: you’re perfect imperfect. So is everyone else.
Want to do some honest work on your ego?
My Handstand Breakthrough Revolution course was specifically designed to challenge you and teach you all the mindset skills you need to transcend your ego and perceived limitations.
YOGAthletica on YouTube teaches you, step-by-step, how to work on difficult poses in a calm, easy and accessible way.
And my online yoga studio is guaranteed to take you out of your comfort zone and push you to new edges and heights.
The success formula is simple. Believe in you and the Universe in equal parts. All is coming.
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