Every morning I wake up, walk like a zombie to the bathroom, wipe the miniature slugs away from my eyes, splash cool water on my face, and look at this strange guy in the mirror--me.

Some questions I ask myself include: Are you the person you want to be? Are you working on something you love? Are you taking risks? If the answer is no too many days in a row, it's time to change something.

But I struggle with the idea of ego. Ego is the voice that wants validation, recognition, and compensation. It's the desire to be loved, to matter, to find meaning in the seemingly uncrackable code of life. Do you know the key?

Overcoming ego doesn't mean you have to adopt the lifestyle of a monk. You don't have to renounce society or free yourself from possessions. I quite like my things and I hope finding happiness with myself means I don't have neglect their existence, even if they are meaningless. Acknowledge your inner voice and move on.

You don't have to submit to ego. You can listen to the internal banter and continue as normal. Problem is, when ego gets the best of us, we are usually the last to know. Is it egotistical to be self-conscious about having an ego? I'm not sure.

I think the single-most helpful tool for overcoming ego is remaining grateful. Be proud of your accomplishments. Share your successes, they inspire the rest of us. I love looking at beautiful homes, even if they are excessive, they provide physical proof that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. Gratitude is the secret for not allowing ego to affect our logic.

You don't have to run from ego to overcome its forcefield. Am I right, or am I right? Only joking. Stay grateful.