It has been said that we are what we think about the most. In other words, people become whatever they focus upon most often. Here's the thing, though: Sometimes it's difficult to discern whether we're focusing on things willingly, or because we're being driven to do so by our egos. 

Which brings us to another old saying- Our worst enemy resides between our ears.

Ego often drives us to do many unhealthy things, particularly when it comes to spending and saving. With that in mind, separating your ego for your money decisions is one of the best things you can do to ensure your long-term financial health.

Here are some more thoughts on that subject. 

Ego and Impulsiveness Go Hand-in-Hand

Ego wants what it wants - when it wants it. Convincing your ego to calm down while you think things through is one of the smartest moves you'll ever make. If you find yourself in a situation in which you feel you need to take action immediately before giving it any thought, especially when finances are involved, that's your ego trying to take control of the situation. 

And, that's exactly what unscrupulous people rely upon when they say things like, "You really need to make a decision right now. There's no way this is going to last. When you come back it will be gone." Fear of missing out is a strong trigger for ego. Meanwhile, the rational mind will think, "Yeah, so what? We'll just do something else if it isn't here when we come back."

Ego Is at the Root of Most Compulsions

One of ego's favorite positions is "More is better." If you're successful by any measure and often find yourself feeling what you have isn't good enough, that's your ego triggering compulsion. 

Let's say you just got a beautiful new home in a nice neighborhood. Everything seems OK for a minute. Then you start feeling like something is missing, so you start looking around with a hypercritical eye. And believe us when we say there's always something wrong to find - regardless of how wonderful anything might be. Thus, when you go looking for flaws, you'll find them and you'll feel compelled to correct them or move someplace those flaws won't exist. 

But your ego goes everywhere you go. 

That itch will flare up again, even after you've made the changes. It's time to arrest your ego whenever you've accomplished something and feel empty rather than fulfilled. Failing to do so can lead to ongoing financial problems including steadily mounting debt. If this has already happened to you, a debt management program, or another debt relief solution, can help you get your ego-driven debt back under control. 

Ego Pulls You Out of the Present

Generally speaking, whenever you're deeply dissatisfied with something, that's usually your ego telling you it deserves better and you aren't doing enough to get it where it wants to be. This can lead to unwise financial choices if we aren't careful. 

The word "should" dominate ego-led conversations. We have no idea what the future holds for us. The rational mind knows this and is capable of accepting it, even while working toward a goal. Ego, on the other hand, has a very narrowly focused vision of what the future ought to be. If things aren't proceeding apace and achieving that ideal appears to be threatened, it will respond with anger and stress. 

Now, with that said, this same mindset can drive us to achieve far more than we may have thought possible. However, allowed to operate unchecked, it can also leave us broken, unfulfilled and bitter. 

Like so many other things in life, moderation is key to its successful application. Before giving in to an impulse or a compulsion, it's always a good idea to stop and appreciate things as they are for a minute, while you determine the best way forward. 

This is particularly true when it comes to separating your ego from your money decisions.