The Powerful Lessons I Learned from “Ego Is the Enemy”

Trivena GV
3 min readNov 1, 2023

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Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash

Hey there! Imagine walking out in public with no clothes on — scary, right? That’s kinda how I felt reading “Ego Is the Enemy” by Ryan Holiday. Hi, I’m Vena, a yoga teacher and an entrepreneur from Bali. I live with my partner and three lovely dogs. And guess what? I’ve got something to share about this book.

At first, the book felt like a mirror reflecting deep inside me. It made me think about my values and the times when I might have let myself down. But you know what? It taught me a whole bunch, and I enjoyed it a lot!

Let me tell you about the book and why it made me feel like walking in public without my clothes on. “Ego Is the Enemy” talks about how our ego, that little voice in our heads saying, “I’m the best” or “I’m not good enough,” can cause big problems. It can make us lose touch with our true selves and mess up our relationships and work.

I believe in values like being authentic, showing love, and keeping balance. But hey, I mess up sometimes. The book reminded me that nobody’s perfect, and that’s okay! It’s more about learning and growing, just like in yoga when you try a difficult pose and fall — you don’t give up; you try again and get better each time.

Reading this book was like having a heart-to-heart chat with a wise friend. It showed me that being honest with myself, accepting failures, and working on them is super important. Sometimes, I get caught up in thinking I have all the answers. But this book humbled me and made me realize that I’ve still got lots to learn.

I’m 28 years old and far from my family, but books are like a family to me. They teach me, comfort me, and help me understand the world better. Writing about my thoughts is something I don’t always do, but it feels good to share this with you.

So, to all the kids out there, let me tell you: it’s okay not to be perfect. It’s about trying, falling, and trying again. And books like “Ego Is the Enemy” are like superheroes — they teach us valuable lessons that help us become better versions of ourselves.

In the end, the book made me feel a mix of emotions, like when you eat ice cream and get brain freeze — it’s both painful and yummy at the same time. But you know what? That mix of feelings taught me a lot. And I’ll keep learning and growing, just like I do in yoga.

So, if you ever feel unsure or imperfect, remember: it’s okay, and it’s all part of the awesome adventure of life.

Cheers to learning, growing, and being kind to ourselves!

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Trivena GV

Vinyasabyvena.com | Yoga Teacher | Practice Stoic in daily life | Varies in nature and art of life | There is no one-size-fits all to live your best life