Don’t let ego cloud your judgments, relationships

When George Harrison wrote “I Me Mine” in 1969, he was commenting on the oversized egos of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which ended up pulling the band apart less than a year later. In Harrison’s Eastern faith, one could not be united with the Higher Power until one renounced those three first-person, selfish pronouns.

Me, me, me: Psychologists point out that people who use I, me, mine the most are the least secure. They (like certain Beatles and public figures) care more about their selfinterests than they do about others. So when you’re listening to someone blathering on and you want to entertain yourself and get a peek into the person’s true nature, keep count of how often they use firstperson pronouns.

And if you think you’re a bit too I, me, mine yourself, you want to nurture your ego strength, not egotism. Egotism clouds your vision. It’s ego strength (I can do this!) that fuels a determination to find solutions to health issues and relationship problems. It also sets you on a path of ever-improving mental and physical health and a younger RealAge.

To build a strong resolve, start with small steps. Set goals you can meet for physical activity and nutritional improvements. Acknowledge your accomplishments when you reach those goals, then set higher ones. And set goals for volunteering in your community helping those in need. Notice that your well-being is tied to the well-being of others. We, You, Us. Now that’s a nice tune. Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.