He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye. - Buddha
Staying focused on the good things we have to offer the world makes a big difference. And then offering them makes an even bigger difference. I'm not sold on the whole "self empowerment" movement because that brings us off-balance as much as going the other way... but thinking of ourselves positively (the same way we would any other friend) and then putting those good things into action is truly "kreng jai" (kindness).
Ego is like a security blanket. Sooner or late, we grow out of our need for it.

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