“My father taught me to never lead with ego.”
Have you ever written something to be put out there, and you wonder if you really believe it? Or at the very least, you question what you wrote?
“My father taught me to never lead with ego.”
I remember writing those words in my book and wondering to myself, “But do I really believe this?”
I decided to keep the words in. Today? I would have written it differently.
I’ve learned a lot about myself since I wrote Walk Through This: Harness the Healing Power of Nature and Travel the Road to Forgiveness in 2020.
Primarily because I’ve become an adventure junkie, and I love finding what I am capable of.
I’ve learned that I have a healthy ego. And that healthy ego has brought me to where I am today: as an author, on stages, leading retreats in the Grand Canyon, Alaska, the San Juan Mountains, climbing my own mountains, and paddle boarding with whales.
- The word ‘ego’ is a Greek word for ‘I,’ meaning the core sense of self, a distinct and unique expression of personhood, albeit one that paradoxically exists in connection or in relation to life and others.
We need a healthy ego, or ‘ego-strength’ in order to cultivate resilience and a strong core sense of self. With ‘ego-strength,’ we can face new challenges, deepen our understanding of self, and develop healthy relationships that form meaning and value for self and others. Having ‘ego-strength’ enriches our lives, allows us to step out of our comfort zone, and create a life filled with meaning and purpose.
I’m writing this newsletter as I am preparing for the Sierra High Route. In fact, as you are reading this, I will be somewhere high in the mountains on the most dangerous and difficult route in the United States. I will be way-pointing through peaks with two of my besties, Mark, aka “Produce”, whom I met on the John Muir Trail in 2020, and Grace, aka “Wet Dog”, my one-and-only niece. My trail name is “Layers,” because I have a lot of layers to me as a woman, and I wear a lot of layers on the outside when climbing.
As anyone knows, the mountains have been hit hard this year. 200% snowfall, and just a few days ago, a hurricane watch brought torrential rain and flooding to the mountains. I just got off the phone with the rangers, and there are 10 more inches of snow at 12,000 ft elevations.
Ranger Sara said, “Listen, there are no hard rules nowadays. Plan, pivot, be safe, and please bury your poop. That’s all we ask.”
And this, my friends, is what it is to have a healthy ego-strength.
Navigate through the hard with wisdom, intuition, and strength.
Know when to back down, and when to move forward. Know when to stand still and listen to your mind, heart, body, and soul .. and know when to listen to others.
Be a leader with self, and guide others with love and empathy. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to experience what life has to offer, and yes, know your limits. Trust that you know when to go, and when to stop. Lean on those who know what you don’t. Ask questions, because you don’t know it all. Stop controlling what you cannot, and focus on what you can. Speak up – use your voice!
Having ego-strength is not being arrogant, narcissistic, or lacking empathy. It’s quite the opposite. It’s about wanting to create a better world for not only yourself but for others, as well.. It’s about stepping into your knowing and sharing your knowing with the world.
Where do you see yourself in these words that I just shared?
Do you have ego-strength? Do you know yourself to your core?
And most importantly, how can you step a bit more into your own ego-strength?
When you read the line in my book, “My father taught me to never lead with ego,” please know that I would edit it to read this:
“My father taught me to always lead with ego-strength, an important tool to have. It’s a tool that you sharpen every day. Use this tool to be a powerful leader, and to create a life you love.”
Grab my book, Walk Through This: Harness the Healing Power of Nature and Travel the Road to Forgiveness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s on Amazon!
Looking for a speaker that touches on ego-strength, belonging, leadership, resilience, and so much more? Message me. Let’s talk and create, together.
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We all matter.
And, I love you.
xo
Sara
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