There is nothing more freeing than knowing that the ego is an insatiable beast. That no matter how hard you work, it would never be satisfied.
In ‘The Power of Now,’ Eckhart Tolle points out that ego feasts on “possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, personal and family history, belief systems, and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications. None of these is you.”
All these things you work for, strive for. Yet, none of these embellishments make your identity. All your possessions get stripped away as you leave the earth.
Should you be frightened that you toil away for things that you can’t take with you after death? There is a practice such as “die before you die.” This phrase embodies detachment.
True detachment in Buddhism is freeing yourself from outcomes. Focus on living rather than all the credentials you can list on your social media bios.
You worry too much about people’s perception of you. To the point that you forget you are not your social media page.
You are so much more than that.
You don’t need to portray such an abundant life.
Accept that the ego will never be satisfied.
And you will be free to be.
