Doing the right thing because it’s the right thing, not to feed the ego

This morning’s Daily Stoic journal entry was about avoiding the temptation of accolades thrown your way. Sometimes they’re valid and nice. Sometimes, they’re just a distraction, something to lead you down the slippery path that can come from ego-induced blindness.

There’s been a lot of stuff going on over the last several weeks. And while some of it’s been very good, it’s left me feeling like the gas tank’s empty. The litany of production issues at work hasn’t helped any.

It can all leave you feeling pretty damn unappreciated sometimes.

So I have to ask myself, why do I do the things I do? Am I doing the right thing because it’s the right thing and that’s what I stand for, or am I doing it so everyone can heap praise on me and feed my ego?

Scripture, which I’m supposed to use to guide my life, says that whatever I do, I should do it for the glory of God. That means sometimes I’ll do the right thing and the wrong things will happen. That I did it because I’m trying to live according to my ideals should be enough.

To be clear, no one’s been abusive or over the line. I’m just not at my best right now. And the more I look for relief, the more elusive it seems to be.

This gives me something to work on. My ego is like the big carnivorous plant in Little Shop of Horrors (or, for that matter, our cat). It only wants to be fed. It’s lust for recognition skews my outlook. It makes me take my eye off the ball.

So today, I get a day off. It’s a day to rest from the running, but it’s also a day to consider things and start working on the things that’ll make me better for myself and more useful to others.

And to put that ego on a badly needed diet.