I am sure you already know by now that when you look for happiness from external sources you are never really satisfied. As we have all done at some time or other, you imagine that if you could have a certain amount of money, drive a certain type of car, live in the house of your dreams, have the partner you are searching for then you would be happy. But the truth of the matter is that when you arrive there, you are still not content. You want more and it seems that you always do want more, no matter how much you buy or achieve.

I am offering you an alternative concept, that when practiced, you will understand just what it means to feel happy, accomplished, fulfilled, content and truly at peace with yourself. Now I am not promising that it is easy to do at all times, but when you do, it will turn your day and life around. You will begin to experience what it means to be truly happy with yourself no matter where you are or what the circumstances are.

Your Happiness Life Tool -- "Rise Above Your Ego"

The ego is that force that is never satisfied. It constantly yearns for more - more money, more control, more power, more stuff and more status. It is the ego that keeps you locked into a routine and lifestyle that we call the rat race. The key in getting out of this never ending cycle is to live beyond your ego. How do you to this?

Firstly, Identify your ego:

- Your ego is that part of you that always wants to show that you are better than others.
- It wants to prove how much you know about everything.
- It always wants to prove that you are right and "they" are wrong.
- Your ego wants you to get "yours" before someone else gets it first.
- Ego wants all the attention on you. It deems your successes and failures far more important
or worthy of attention than those of others.

Secondly, Beat your ego at its own game:

-When you know more than someone and want to use it to boost your ego, keep quiet.
-If someone wants to do something in a way that you know will be slower and less efficient than the way you usually do it, take a step back and let them do it their way.
-If you have done something to help someone out in a big or small way, keep it as your secret and do not announce it to the world in order to elevate your importance.
-Put others' needs to affirm their own worth ahead of yours.
-Give others the chance to shine and have their day in the spotlight.
-Rather than bringing attention to your successes or setbacks, shift your focus to someone less fortunate than yourself or to someone who needs validation more than you do.

You will be amazed at what identifying your ego and rising above it will do for your own self worth and feeling of satisfaction. By letting go of your egos hold on you, you will develop inner pride, joy and contentment. You will get to experience a feeling of happiness and contentment that more money, more gifts and more power never brings. If you are skeptical, try it out for a day or week and let me know what happens. :)

Be aware of every time your ego wants to take control of you during the day. The intensity of how uncomfortable you feel in not giving in to its demands is an indication of just how strong your ego is in that situation. Begin with situations that are not too uncomfortable, working your way up to more difficult ones and watch your own self-worth and happiness unfold in your life.