We are raised to nurture our egos. Our ego is what demarcates us in this world. We are usually told, 'Don't be weak! Stand up for yourself!' when we feel hesitant about something. Modesty is rarely associated with worldly success. We are taught to be pushy to get on in life, stand out from the crowd and be proud of our abilities. This may be good worldly advice, but it is not valid for a seeker. We must recognise that in creating this individuality and differentiating ourselves from others, we are also isolating ourselves from God.