“The ego is nothing other than the focus.”
— Alan Watts
Simplified Meaning:
The quote is saying that the ego is just what you pay the most attention to about yourself. Imagine you have a magnifying glass and you point it at a tiny part of your life, making that small part look very big. Your ego is like that – it’s what you believe is most important about you. For example, if someone is really good at their job and always gets praised for their work, they might start to think of themselves only as that successful job title. They focus only on this one part of their lives and can become proud or protective of it because they see it as their whole identity. If you try to see yourself in a more balanced way – recognizing your hobbies, relationships, and other things you care about – your ego won’t just focus on one thing. Applying this idea in your life, you can remind yourself to look at the bigger picture and not let one part of who you are become the center of everything. This can help you stay humble and be more understanding of others.