No one thrives alone.

Not in life, not in success, not in happiness.

Everything you see around you — from the chair you’re sitting on to the devices you’re holding — exists because of a chain of events powered by a collective consciousness.

Yet, so often, we become blinded by ego, convinced that individualism is the ultimate goal.

The truth is, the world is built for and by people, and our greatest achievements come from tapping into the power of connection.

When you detach from ego and focus on adding value to others, the tribe will reward you. That’s the law of human nature.

Insight

Ego refers to a person's sense of self or self-importance. It’s an important part of ourselves, but it can become highly demanding and seek too much self-gratification. Why is that a problem?

Look around: the people who tend to be the most protected and taken care of are the ones who generate the most value to others. Why? Because they change so many people's lives for the better and automatically generate gratitude.

Gratitude is one of the biggest sources of abundance. It creates a positive feedback loop.

If you can make people grateful for something that you did, they will want to reward you for it. People are wired to want to give back when they feel appreciated or supported — it’s a cornerstone of human connection.

To achieve that, you’ve got to detach from self and focus on being selfless.

Take care of the people around you, and you will be taken care of.

The idea that we are all connected may seem simple, but its implications are profound.

Every achievement, every advancement, and every comfort you experience today is the result of countless people who came before you.

From inventors to teachers to strangers who unknowingly influenced the course of history, we’re all part of an intricate web of cause and effect.

Yet, modern society often promotes a narrative of self-reliance and individualism.

Ego isn’t inherently bad; it's an important part of ourselves that seeks our well-being and encourages our growth. But you must control it, because when untamed, ego can blind us from seeing the bigger picture — the interconnected nature of our existence.

Here are some side effects of an uncontrolled ego:

1. Isolation: It makes you disconnected from others, which can push people away and leave you feeling lonely. You might believe you're self-sufficient or better than most people, which could close you off to connections that would open opportunities in your life.

2. Blinds You to Growth: It convinces you that you’re already the best. You grow arrogant, and you think you're more than enough. It becomes hard to accept constructive criticism or learn from mistakes. If you can't recognize your flaws, you will stagnate your growth.

3. Short-Term Focus: Ego tends to seek immediate validation, leading to decisions based on pride rather than long-term fulfillment. This can result in poor choices and regret.

4. Fuels Conflict: When ego dominates, you’re more likely to react defensively, escalate arguments, and struggle with collaboration. It prioritizes “winning” over finding solutions.

5. Distorts Reality: Ego thrives on a distorted sense of self-importance, making it hard to see your true strengths, weaknesses, or contributions realistically.

I do experience, to some extent, some of the effects of an uncontrolled ego.

I believe I have a considerably big ego. I work on it on a daily basis, though.

I come from humble beginnings, and looking back, I believe my ego growth might have been a defense mechanism I developed to deal with my hostile environment and feelings of inadequacy.

It protected me when the whole world around me tried to destroy me and my self-esteem.

On the other hand, it made me quite prideful and disconnected. For that reason, I have to be constantly aware of my ego.

I work on being more humble each day and connecting to this sense of collectiveness by being more selfless.

Mastery Mode is one of the ways I found to give back to the world by using my voice and knowledge to empower others. As time goes on, I embrace the power of community and providing value to people around me.

Actionable Step

Here’s how you can start reducing your ego and connecting to a sense of collective consciousness:

Practice Gratitude: Reflect daily on the people and systems that make your life easier. Who helped create the opportunities you have today? If you believe in a higher power, remember to connect with it. I've been practicing gratitude daily lately, and it's been an amazing journey. Wake up and be thankful for your life and the things you have — your health, the roof over your head, the food you eat, your loved ones, EVERYTHING. You'll feel more relaxed and understand how good you already have it in so many ways. It's a game changer to kickstart your day by acknowledging your blessings.

Give Value First: Look for ways to contribute. Whether it’s helping a colleague, sharing knowledge, or supporting a cause, focus on giving. The interesting thing is that even when you don't expect something in return, you'll receive it due to the law of cause and effect. Every action has a reaction, and by providing value, you'll be rewarded — even if it’s only the joy you feel within from your altruism. You need to CARE. Care about the value you’re giving. Craft this value as if it were delivered to you. Don’t you want the best of the best? Provide the best of the best to others, and you'll receive it in return.

Detach from Outcomes: The ego thrives on recognition — it wants the applause, the approval, the acknowledgment. It convinces us that our worth is tied to external validation. It wants to conquer the world for itself, and when we don’t get it, we feel inadequate or frustrated. When you focus solely on outcomes, you give away your power. Don’t let external factors — many of which are out of your control — dictate your happiness and self-worth. Detach. Remember, you’re just a tiny little human in this infinite universe. It’s not that serious.

Beyond all…

Practice awareness. Watch your ego. Watch how it works. Watch what it says.

Soon enough you’ll be able to deal and control it to a higher extent.

The Curated Corner

A selection of handpicked gems.

Speak Your Mind

Do you have a big ego? Have you ever reflected about the collective consciousness that runs our lives? Do you practice daily gratitude?

Let me know. I always appreciate a different perspective and would love to know your experience about it.

If you have any questions or comments, just reply to this email or send a message on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you.

I hope this dive into the ego journey sparked some insight. Remember, it’s not about feeding the ego, but about understanding it. See you again soon. Wishing you a day of self-awareness and balance. Stay grounded and stay safe!

Best regards,

James - Founder of Mastery Mode

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