
How to tell the difference between defending your ego and protecting what truly matters to you.
We’re all fighting battles every day. In meetings, at dinner tables, on social media. But what if most of these battles are completely pointless?
I used to think every disagreement was worth defending. Colleagues with “wrong” ideas frustrated me. Friends making different choices annoyed me. I was constantly in battle mode, trying to prove I was right.
Then I realized: I was fighting the wrong battles entirely.
The real battle isn’t about being right, it’s about knowing who you are and what you stand for. That’s the difference between ego battles and authentic convictions.
Right and Wrong only matter in context
Picture this: I’m at lunch with friends, and we’re debating whether to order individual meals or share dishes family-style. One person argues, “Sharing is more fun and brings us together.” Another counters, “But ordering separately is more comfortable, everyone gets exactly what they want.”
Such a small thing, yet it created tension at the table.