How to Take Action When Your Ego Holds You Back
Do you find it difficult to take action on certain activities and opportunities?
Take action anyway. This may be easier said than done, right? You want to step out of your comfort zone but your ego is holding you back.
I know. I've been there and it stinks. I want to take action and do great things. But something is holding me back.

What Is Ego?
Your ego is that feeling of fear or thinking you can't. It's hard for you to take action. Why can't you?
The truth is, you can take action. You have to make your mind tell your ego where to go. Out the door. To the parking lot. Far away.
I've had many opportunities where my ego held me back and I lost the chance to do something huge for my future. I could have followed through, but I was scared. My ego was bigger than my positivity.
Still, though, I learned from those missed opportunities and plunged on to find a new opportunity. How can you look past your ego and commit to an uncomfortable step that can lead to greatness?
[Tweet "None of us would have ever learned to walk without taking that first step. "]
MANTRA
First of all, look past your ego is to encourage yourself. Tell yourself you can do it. Come up with a mantra about you that you can say to yourself over and over again until you believe it. The trick is believing it and embedding it into your head.
So, I practiced mantra when I ran the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon in 2009. At mile 11, my left leg started cramping up. I had to stop and shake it out. I sipped some cool water but it was still cramping. I told myself to keep going, so I did. "You can do this, you can do this, you can do this". Over and over again, I told myself I could and so I did. I finished that race!
MOTIVATION
Next, find someone you can look up to who has achieved what you want to achieve. I'm not saying copy this person. I'm saying look up to him or her. Notice what has worked for him or her. When I read words from Michael Hyatt or see pictures of show goats from Dale Hummell, I am inspired and motivated to become better. Not like them but in my own way with my own unique dreams.
My ego has held me back many times and when I was younger, I did have the urge to do things just like other people. However, after much research, I have found that what works for them may not work for me. What works for me, may not work for you. You have to find what works for YOU.
STAY HUMBLE
Always keep a good head on your shoulders and use mantra to remember what is important. Think about everyone else but yourself and how your words and actions would affect those around you.
Also, when you reach to the point of stepping out of your comfort zone, remember those around you who are there for you. If they offer a shoulder to lean on, take it. Your friends and family are there for you. Even certain people who you may not think about are there for you. They want to be there. Open your eyes and notice them.
HELP OTHERS
I've seen the power of helping others. Now I am convinced that helping others really helps me, too.
One experience has been within Facebook groups. I had been posting comments based on my own experiences with pictures on someone else's feed. There was little knowledge from other on the topic and I was one of the few who had experience.
Then a few days later, I received a message from someone very successful in that industry who I have followed and admired for many years. He wrote to me that he'd seen my posts and was inspired by what I was doing and where I was going. He even went so far to ask me where I was located.
As I was jumping for joy and excitement on the other line, I wrote back to him about my program. I also added that it made my day to get a message from him as I knew he was very successful in the industry and I had been following his work for many years. What he said next knocked me off my feet.
UNDERSTAND YOU ARE A PERSON JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
This is what he said to me:
You are very kind, but I'm just a breeder like you trying to make goats better.
So, did you see what he just did there? He actually made me his equal. He could have let his ego run him and respond to make him sound bigger and better than me, but he didn't. And that is why he is successful and will continue to be.
He actually let his ego down twice:
1. First, he let his ego down when he messaged me about my program.
2. Then, he made little ol' me his equal when he said, "I'm just a person LIKE you."
As a result of his kindness, this is exactly how I want to treat people when I'm successful.
ONE STEP AT A TIME
How do you become successful? One step at a time. Achieving one small goal after another to reach the ultimate dream.
Yet, never forget to celebrate those small victories towards your goals. But then, continue on the path to achieve greatness. And watch out for the ego.
Finding ultimate success is difficult to most people. It usually doesn't happen over night. It takes small steps and short-term goals to reach success status. Many people never reach that status. Why?
Because, that darn ego gets in the way. That's why. That ego that says, "Look, I see where you want to go, but I'm going to block your path because I really don't think you can do it."
[Tweet "Don't make yourself think you can't. If you think you can't, you won't. Then what? You don't achieve anything with can't. "]
Just Be You and Go For It
This is the most important advice: How to do "you" without your ego. You don't need it. All you need is your strong mind to take action with your mantra, your goals, your peeps, and you.
Finally, you are the one who will reach your dreams. Only you can take action, make it happen and no one else. Finding mentors and shoulders to lean on is a helpful process that takes trust, compassion and humbleness. Then, use your knowledge and experiences to help others achieve, too and you will be noticed.
How has your ego held you back from reaching something bigger?
~Much Love~








These are some great tips!! I'm all about helping people these days 🙂
Thanks for reading, CourtneyLynne! You go far when you help people!
This is a really great post and so much motivation and encouragement, it has honestly come at the right time for me. Thanks
Miranda, I'm so glad you liked my post. Thank you for reading it! I was inspired to write it after receiving that message and to share my feelings with you all. 🙂
I absolutely love this. I definitely get in my own way sometimes. Going to keep this in mind. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading, Katie! It's always important to stay grounded and humble.
Great advice I am always trying to motivate myself to follow these life rules. This was a great reminder 🙂
Thanks, Holly! Now that I've reminded you, take action and practice the steps you think would help you become better. I like to write them down and post them on the bathroom mirror or somewhere I know I will see them. 🙂
I love the advice to understand you are a person just like everyone else. This has helped to keep me grounded many times as well 🙂
It is a great lesson, Tiffany. I've been around many people who have let their ego grow so big that it takes over. It makes them think they are better, but they are really still just people. Thanks for reading!
Wow this post is dead on! I've let my ego (in this case fear) hold me back from so many things including college. I graduated High School 5 years ago and every one of those years I'd say, "this year I'm going to apply and go!" However, when the time came, I would always back out cause of my fear of failing, being too old, and other insecurities. This year, I took the first couple of steps and applied to school, applied for financial aid, and then took a placement test (this was a biggie). I am so proud of myself but I still have a long way before that first day of class coming up in August. I just have to take it a day at a time & stay focused! Thanks for sharing such an inspiring & uplifting post ♥
Good for you! It just takes a few steps and a few rewards to keep you motivated. Stay on the path of success, Christal. You have have so much ahead of you and all of us here are rooting for you! Thanks for reading!
Aww, Trisha! Thank you for reading and for the kind comment! I was looking for a challenge when I decided to train for the half because I'm NOT a natural runner. 🙂 If you have a goal in mind you want to achieve, treat it like you are training for a half. One mile at a time. One step at a time. You can achieve anything you put your mind to!
Oh goodness. I needed to read this today! My ego has been holding me back and I (literally 20 minutes ago!) decided that I can't let it. I'm tired of living a fear-controlled life, and it's time for a BIG change. Exciting! Thank you for sharing! Now I just need to get back to running!
Thanks for reading, Brea! We all forget (I think most of the time), so I'm hoping my reminder could help you and be your reminder. It takes guts, but I know you have them! Good luck to you!
Absolutely, Debrah! It's so frustrating because it keeps you from making a decision. All it takes is a decision, so go for it!
Thanks for reading, Sheryl! I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment! It really makes my day bright.
Thank YOU for reading, Shannon! I appreciate you visiting my blog and leaving a comment. Have you subscribed to my email list yet?
My pleasure. 🙂
I enjoyed your tips in this piece. It is a great message.
Thanks, Amy Lu! Glad you enjoyed it.