If You're Struggling with LOW SELF-ESTEEM - WATCH THIS | Jay Shetty

Summary

The transcript discusses how ego manifests in both high and low self-esteem, with ego often driving extremes. The conversation delves into how ego pushes individuals to view themselves as either superior or inferior. It emphasizes that true balance comes from self-honesty and service to others, which shifts focus away from self-centeredness. By engaging in acts of service, individuals discover more about themselves and contribute meaningfully to others. The speaker also reflects on balancing personal goals with maintaining humility, highlighting the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Low self-esteem and lack of confidence can be linked to ego, which manifests in extremes like thinking you're either the best or the worst.
• 📖 The Bhagavad Gita discusses ego as being at both extremes — either thinking you're superior or inferior to everyone else.
• 🎯 Ego seeks to put you either at the top or the bottom, distorting your sense of balance and self-awareness.
• 🛑 The antidote to ego is self-honesty, being truthful about what you're good at and what you're not.
• 🧠 Focusing on oneself and centering on personal pain reinforces ego and leads to more suffering.
• 💡 Serving others helps you learn more about yourself and can diminish the ego by shifting focus away from self-centeredness.
• 🧘 Success often comes from serving others by solving problems, whether through charity, music, or innovation.
• 📊 Balancing the desire for success with the need for humility requires focusing on the process, not the outcome.
• 📝 Writers and creators must detach from future results and focus on perfecting their craft in the present moment.
• 🔑 A meaningful life comes from purpose and service, and success is often a byproduct of focusing on helping others, not personal gain.

Q & A

What is the concept of ego as discussed in the script?

The ego is described as pushing individuals to extremes. It manifests either by making someone feel superior ('I am the best') or by making them feel inferior ('I am the worst'). The ego doesn't allow for balance or reality and always seeks to place the individual at the top or the bottom.

How does the ego relate to low self-esteem or lack of confidence?

The ego can still be present in people with low self-esteem or lack of confidence. It pushes them to feel like they have the worst life, or that they are worse than everyone else, reinforcing a self-centered focus that keeps them from finding balance and reality.

What is the antidote to ego, according to the script?

The antidote to ego is self-honesty. This involves acknowledging one's strengths, weaknesses, and areas where one is average. Honesty helps people avoid the extremes of ego, whether that is feeling superior or inferior.

How does focusing on oneself contribute to ego, even when feeling like a failure?

Focusing on oneself, even when feeling like a failure, contributes to ego because it centers all attention on one's own pain. By constantly immersing in self-centered thoughts, one amplifies their suffering instead of finding balance.

How does helping others remove the focus from oneself and reduce ego?

Helping others shifts the focus from oneself and reduces ego by allowing people to engage in service. When individuals help others, they experience different aspects of themselves and grow from these interactions, breaking free from self-centered thinking.

Why is service important for personal growth?

Service is important for personal growth because it helps individuals learn more about themselves through their interactions with others. By serving others, people expand their understanding of their own capacities and discover new parts of their character.

What is the relationship between success and service, as explained in the script?

Success is closely tied to service, as successful individuals solve problems for others. Whether in business, music, or philanthropy, success often comes from fulfilling the needs of others, which builds lasting relationships and accomplishments.

How can individuals balance serving others while still seeking personal success?

Individuals can balance serving others while seeking personal success by focusing on the process, not the outcome. The script emphasizes that it's important to serve with the intent to help, while separating from the desire for praise or results. By doing so, success becomes a byproduct of service.

How did the speaker deal with the pressure after achieving initial success?

The speaker struggled with the pressure after a viral video, fearing they would not live up to the success of their previous work. This led to self-doubt and a temporary pause in creating content. However, they overcame it by focusing on serving others rather than on the outcomes.

What is the key to overcoming the fear of not living up to past success?

The key to overcoming the fear of not living up to past success is to focus on the preparation, process, and practice, without becoming attached to the result. The speaker emphasizes that while individuals can control their effort, the outcome is beyond their control, and detachment from the result leads to growth.