How do we know if we're acting out of love, out of the ego, or whether we're being selfish, or simply acting from the goodness of our hearts? When you act from the ego more successful people are intimidating, they serve as competition and you treat them like road blocks getting in the way of your path. If, however, you act from love, you willingly share your strengths and talents, welcome feedback, listen to other's ideas, and understand the importance of working together towards a common goal.
Operating from love is a challenging task, especially when we encounter pain. In moments such as these our egos have the fuel they need to justify increasing emotional distance and separateness from the people around us. We are now off the path of love. No matter how distressful our situation may be, it is our choice to remain in fear, self-judgment and judgment of others, thereby adding more fuel to the ego. It is up to each and every one of us to squelch the ego's destructive path, fill our heart and minds with love, which in turn increases our ability to fill the hearts and minds of others.