Recently, in astrology sessions with a number of clients, their birth charts have shown them to be people who must play in a big space. It’s important for them to work in environments where they can see that they’re having a significant impact on the world. This may be through working in large organisations, like big corporates, or taking leading roles in world changing movements.
When I’ve pointed this out to them I’ve had the reaction “isn’t that being egotistical?” One gentleman has years of experience in CFO roles for organisations where he was responsible for multi-million dollar budgets. He left that space to move into the family business which, as he put it, focused on $100 tax returns.
He’d been very successful in his corporate life and loved what he was doing. When he moved into the family business he was continually frustrated and never happy with his role.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that everyone has to play big. Many people are very happy in roles (both in life and work) where their entire focus is on a very small group, for example their immediate family. For this type of person trying to operate in the world of large corporates could be very scary and destructive. It all depends on your personal makeup – I use astrology as the pre-eminent tool to understand this.
When we think about ego we usually have a sense of someone “puffing themselves up”, “being too big for their boots” and so on. It’s generally associated with a person who’s very good at telling others how wonderful he/she is.
According to the source of all knowledge, Wikipdia, “Ego .. could mean one’s self-esteem; an inflated sense of self-worth; the conscious-thinking self; or in philosophical terms, one’s self.”
When seen in this light it’s no wonder ego has had bad press for some time (probably as far back as Freud who coined the term or even further back under other names).
Ultimately, it’s our sense of ourselves, the “I” or “Me”. As such it plays a very important role in keeping us safe and alive, which most people would agree is generally a very helpful trait.
However, in an attempt to keep us safe it becomes risk averse and so creates the mindset which holds us within our comfort zones. A “comfort zone” is not necessarily a comfortable place but it’s one we know and so, working on the premise that “the devil you know is better than one you don’t”, we find it easier and hence, more comfortable, staying with our current situation rather than risk stepping out into the unknown, even if that unknown promises all the things we want in our lives.
As you know, humans have two main drives: avoid pain and seek pleasure. In most people, avoiding pain is by far the dominant characteristic and so anything which may have a perceived potential for pain is resisted, even if there is only a possibility and on rational reflection it’s not real.
Let’s return to my earlier point about people who are designed (as indicated by their astrological birth chart) to play a big game. If the ego is trying to keep them safe by giving them reasons for not changing what they’re currently doing they end up “living lives of quiet desperation” (a la Pink Floyd).
So, when you look at your own life and think of what you love doing and what sort of change you’d like to see in the world, are your dreams big and world changing or personal and intimate.
Both are right, important and valid. The important point here is that you do what’s right for you – not according to someone else’s views or opinions.
If you’ve been born to play on a global stage who are you helping when you ignore the call? It’s not egotistical to believe you can make a difference, if that’s exactly what you chose this life for.
What the world needs now are leaders with vision, passion, integrity and belief. If that’s you then it’s time to step up.
You’re never too old, too young, too rich, too broke or any other excuse your ego can invent to “keep you safe” and so prevent you fulfilling your purpose.
As I’ve written before, 2014 is the year to get out there and make it happen. Just remember to do it with ease and grace and integrity.