Embracing Growth and Letting Go of Ego
This is just a recording of me flattering myself—talking about how amazing I’ve been living recently. Not in every aspect of life, but in a lot of them. One of the biggest things is that I don’t mind failing.
Today, I feel like my ego is just… gone. I don’t feel it anymore. I’m slowly realizing that it’s fading away, and honestly, it’s liberating.
I went out today and held a poster that said, Let’s Have Life Together. Not a single person came up to me, but I’m slowly learning—learning that even someone like me, who has barely any ego and doesn’t care about looking stupid, still feels resistance to doing things like this. Even something as simple as asking someone to have lunch.
The Fear of Failing Is Fading
Beyond that, I’ve been embracing failure in a lot of ways. For example, today at the gym, a girl walked past me, and even though she was a few meters away, I could smell her perfume—it was strong, but really nice.
So, I figured, why not say something?
As she was sitting down, about to start her workout, I walked up to her and said, “Your perfume is so nice that I could smell it from six meters away.”
She looked a little confused but said, “Thank you.”
And that was it. I just wanted to let her know. No expectation, no awkward lingering. Just a quick comment, and I walked away.
Because really, what do I lose if I don’t do it? Nothing. So why the hell wouldn’t I? And honestly, it gave me energy. I continued on with my workout, feeling good.
The Ripple Effect of Confidence
Later, I saw a guy who looks exactly like Leon Plut, one of the German exchange students I’ve been seeing around a lot. I’d noticed him before but never talked to him. Today, though, I felt good—maybe because of my previous approach with that girl.
That’s the domino effect. The hardest part is starting. Once you start, your ego disappears, and you live more in the moment. Suddenly, I was more willing to ask people questions—strangers, friends, whoever. Even the kinds of questions I might have resisted before, thinking they were too personal or too much.
I’ve also been trying to be more optimistic—specifically about how people respond to me. I try to see the best versions of people, to assume they’re willing to help me if they can. And surprisingly, a lot of times, they do.
Trusting in Humanity
It’s all about trusting in humanity. And not a lot of people have that.
I see it as an asset, a skill—trusting in humanity gives me the ability to get help from people. Not in a way that uses them, but in a way that allows us to do things together instead of me doing everything alone. I think that’s a much better way to frame it.
I’m also taking life less seriously—or, rather, not too seriously. I’m just enjoying the moment, the people around me, and what life has to offer.
Enjoying Authentic Interactions
For example, even in texting, I just send things as they come to my mind. My brain thinks of funny or interesting things, so why not share them? If they make someone laugh, even better.
Today, when I was sitting in DC, I noticed how authentic my conversations with friends have become. The comments I make feel fresh, unfiltered, and sometimes they’re just so funny. I think improv has helped with that a lot.
I also randomly started talking to a girl wearing a Copenhagen shirt. Turns out, she’s not from Copenhagen but would like to go. At first, it felt awkward, but as soon as I had a reason to talk to her—convincing her to consider the exchange program—it became easy.
Final Thoughts
Every day, I feel like I’m letting go of my ego more and more. I’m failing more, trying more, and living more. And honestly? It feels amazing.