Weakness

        What is the value of weakness? Why is it such a prevalent part of our existence? Why do we have to struggle so much? Some would say there is no reason, that weakness is just a genetic lottery or byproduct of social circumstances. I don’t think that belief is very useful. 

       One of the great flaws of humankind is pernicious and omnipresent ego. Ego masquerades as strength, the illusion growing larger, stronger, and often more depraved as more people flock toward it, validate it, praise it, and submit to it. That’s the tricky thing about ego. It appears to our carnal selves as a positive, a pathway to fulfilling desires. And true enough, a strong ego can be an effective tool in accruing external gains like popularity, position, and wealth. But these things come at a cost. Ego is a trap.

       The spoiled prince or princess is a common archetype in folklore and mythology. It’s also commonly observable in real life. These characters often possess all the resources, positions, and opportunities a person could ever hope for. But they are inherently empty. They possess no depth, no understanding, no wisdom, and often no kindness, true friendship, or love. Why? Because there is nothing happening in their lives that forces them to learn to be more. They live in invisible prisons, prisons with thick walls of arrogance that keep them forever locked away from the one thing that might actually matter, becoming better people. The cost of ego is stagnation.

       This is why being forced to confront our weaknesses is so important. Unpleasant as it is, it allows us to set our egos aside, and in humility, seek to learn a better way. In the depths of humility, the doors of possibility swing wide open, and our souls become fertile ground for seeds of wisdom and character that allow us to grow toward the next version of ourselves, a version progressively more attuned to purpose and meaning, a version finally capable of finding fulfillment.