The Ego and the Open Door

We are all in such a hurry. We have meetings, we have gym sessions, we have shows to catch up on. Our internal monologues are usually a frantic list of things we haven't done yet. In this state of rush, other people become obstacles. The person walking slowly in front of you is a nuisance. The person trying to merge into your lane is a competitor. Our egos thrive in the rush because they make us the center of the universe.

Breaking that rush is an act of spiritual rebellion. It starts with something as mundane as holding a door. Not just a quick flick of the wrist as you pass through, but actually stopping, making eye contact, and waiting those extra three seconds for the person behind you. In those three seconds, your ego has to take a backseat. You are acknowledging that someone else’s journey is just as valid as yours. You are creating a tiny pocket of stillness in the chaos.

When you slow down to be kind, you are actually giving yourself a gift. You are proving to your brain that you are not a slave to your schedule. You are demonstrating that you have enough time to be a human being. This is the essence of Zen: finding the infinite in the ordinary. A simple act of courtesy is a meditation. It forces you to come out of your head and into the shared space of the present moment.

Consider how much of our stress comes from the feeling of being at war with our surroundings. We feel like we have to fight for everything—for space, for attention, for success. Kindness is the white flag. It is the realization that we don't have to fight. When you yield the right of way or let someone go ahead of you in line, you are stepping out of the arena. You are choosing peace over victory. And surprisingly, peace feels a lot better than winning.

This week, look for the "open door" moments. They are everywhere once you start looking. They are the tiny opportunities to put your own agenda aside for a heartbeat. Each time you do it, you chip away at the walls of isolation we build around ourselves. You realize that the world is not full of obstacles; it is full of people. And most of them are just as tired and rushed as you are. A little bit of grace goes a long way.