I came to a startling realization regarding my inner-game that is often referred to as “clicking” around these parts. I figured I would share it here in the hopes that it may inspire someone else. Please keep in mind the majority of the following tome is my personal distillation of books I have read and my opinion.

The majority of humanity does not exist in reality. That is the majority of your decisions and actions are made through the haze of opinion or ego. Essentially these are short cuts hardwired into your brain through a combination of DNA, your observation of others experiences/behavior, and your own personal experiences/behaviors. These short cuts are incredibly useful, for example don’t jump off a 30 story building. Most of us have never attempted to jump unaided off a 30 story building onto solid concrete, because we intuitively know that this is not the smartest decision we could make for a long and happy life. The problem with these short cuts is they are antiquated particularly in a social sense. Also a big majority of input for your ego (your life experiences) is purely happenstance the environment you were raised in, location of birth etc. you could go on for hours. An even bigger problem is that they compound on themselves as you make decisions based on these opinions. Pretty soon your brain has convinced itself that you have as much chance of getting a date with statuesque blonde at the bar or becoming a CEO of your own company as you do of surviving that nose dive off your office tower. Here are some real world examples of your ego/opinion coloring your observations.

  • Wow that guy parked in the handicapped spot without a sticker he must be the world’s greatest douche-nozzle: OPINION
  • Wow that guy parked in the handicapped spot without a sticker there must be some sort of emergency: OPINION
  • There is a guy parked in a handicapped spot without a sticker:FACT
  • That girl is 5 inches taller than me and absolutely stunning she would have absolutely no interest in me:OPINION
  • That girl is 5 inches taller than me: FACT
  • That girl just rejected me she must be like all the rest of these worthless bitches: OPINION
  • That girl just rejected me I knew I could never measure up to a girl like that: OPINION
  • That girl at the present moment in time has rejected my approach: FACT

Most people’s first reaction upon accepting these statements is “DESTROY ALL THE EGOS” however this is not possible or necessarily healthy again it is your ego at work

  • I have an ego and it is making horribly negative decisions for me: OPINION
  • I have an ego: FACT

None of the people browsing seddit would be here if weren’t for our egos. The ego is responsible for most of humanities successes and advances in the same breath it is responsible for most of its short comings. What to do? It is incredibly difficult the ego is probably the single most manipulative bit of programming that exists in our brain. There is a vast difference between making an opinionated decision and a conscious opinionated decision. Become aware of how your ego is impacting your decisions and its negative powers disappear. The next time you decide not to approach, start your own business, ask that boss for a raise, take your relationship to the next level, tell that friend how you really feel, or react to any of the above ask yourself “am I considering the facts?”

tldr: OPINION: This post is too long FACT: This post is 592 words long