Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be wildly famous and rich? To achieve all your goals and be rewarded with wealth and prestige?
For some, it’s a dream and a lifelong ambition.
We need people with ingenuity and drive. They discover, invent, and move us forward along with them. Whether they are technical geniuses, actors, musicians, writers, or spiritual leaders, to name a few, the energy they put out lifts up society as a whole.
We could be that person. And we can be successful to lesser degrees but still do very well.
But once we get there, how do we handle fame, money, and the attention that comes with success?
Are we gracious and generous? Or rude and overindulgent?
It’s a confidence thing.
How you conduct yourself when you live in the public eye depends on your ego. It is a challenge you must rise to, and notoriety will certainly test your ego.
That part of us that gives us our self-esteem and our feeling of worth will be in full view.
Even those of us who achieve our goals might not feel secure. You might be sensitive to being judged, and face it, you will be, and afraid of losing what you’ve fought for or of competition. You might be coming from a place of fear.
We all have our pasts to deal with.
And there are those on the opposite end of the spectrum who feel they are far superior to most, including their fans or customers responsible for elevating them to their successful status.
But whether your ego is so big there’s only space for you in the room or so fragile you don’t like your picture taken, how we treat others will impact their lives.
It’s a big responsibility.
Will we rise to the occasion or let success showcase our vices?
It’s your choice.
Egos in History and Our Lives
Some people show exceptional grace and dignity, even under fire. There is nothing more admirable than a powerful person who treats others with respect and graciousness.
I call it having class, but it takes a lot of confidence.
And practice.
George Washington could have been a king. Instead, he chose to limit his power for the good of the new country he’d fought for.
Gandhi chose pacifism in his fight for independence from British rule.
The great Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, who ruled the entire civilized world, did not allow his power to corrupt him, even going into Rome’s treasure chest to pay off its debts. He had absolute power yet made his adoptive brother Lucius Verus co-emperor.
Babe Ruth signed kids’ autographs for hours following a game.
Taylor Swift goes out of her way to pose with her fans.
Then we hear stories of Ellen DeGeneres and Kanye West treating people horribly.
Who do you want to emulate? How do you want to be remembered?
No one is perfect and we can lose our tempers, make mistakes. It’s all a part of being human. But in general, do we choose to be kind or arrogant? Or impatient and dismissive?
Success
Success gives us the power to reach and influence an audience.
Once we have reached them and made a connection, do we make their lives better or worse? We can encourage them to step up and improve their lives, be kinder by our example, wish them the success we’ve found.
We are in a powerful position to change people’s lives, whether we are famous in the world or a small circle. We can impart healing and compassion or vanity and ego.
Absolute power can exist in small circles, but that doesn’t mean it necessarily corrupts us. If we are brave enough to be the best, we can be.
Who we are at our core and our past creates our egos, but if we have the power to succeed and raise our standard of living, we also have the power to examine and revamp our egos.
Change is inevitable in all things.
Even ourselves. And that’s a good thing.
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