Ego, Pride, and YOU: Knowing the Difference
Godd3ss Aisha
True Story
“Aye, Aisha, I bet you can’t take these last two shots!”
Me:
“Bet I can!”
One slam. 🥃
Two slam. 🥃
(Thinking)
“Don’t call me out…I’m bout this life!” 😂
“Now what?!”
A little later…
“Uhh, my girl is trippin. Can you give me a ride home?”
Me:
“Bet. Let me get my keys.”
Then that little voice inside started talking…
“Now, Aisha…you know good and well you have no business driving. Make some food, chill for a while, then take him home.”
Then came the outside voice:
“Ayyye, you good though, right? I know those shots ain’t got you?”
Me:
“Oh yeah, I’m good. Just gotta find my keys.”
Inside voice again:
“Aisha…don’t do it.”
My response?
“Shiiid…let’s go. Besides, I need cigarettes anyway. I’ve done this before. This is nothing new.”
Found my keys.
Started driving.
“Make a left on Murray.”
Then…
🚨 Woooop Woooop 🚨
👀👀👀
Damn.
The police. 🤦🏾♀️
“License, registration, and proof of insurance, please.”
Now what?
This actually happened to me.
As I reflect back on my life, I think about the choices I made and, more importantly…
Why I made them.
When I really started digging deep, I realized that my ego and my pride played a major role in many of the decisions that led me into difficult situations.
Let’s break it down.
Ego: The First Responder
I realized that in many of my unfortunate situations, my ego was always the first one to show up.
Look back at the story:
“I bet you can’t take these last two shots.”
Who answered first?
My ego.
“Bet I can.”
Not logic.
Not wisdom.
Not my higher self.
Ego.
The part of me that felt challenged.
The part that felt like I had something to prove.
Pride: The Enforcer
Now pride?
Whew. 😂
I call pride the enforcer.
Pride came in right behind ego, saying:
“I’m bout that life.”
“You’ve done this before.”
“Today isn’t any different.”
Pride will have you defending a decision that deep down you already know isn’t the right one.
Unless you recognize it.
Then There Was ME
The real me was there too.
The calm voice.
The wise voice.
The voice saying:
“Aisha…you know you shouldn’t do this.”
🤔🤔🤔
So why didn’t I listen?
Why did I let ego and pride take control and end up with a ticket and AA classes?
When I was honest with myself, the answer was simple:
I wanted people to think I was “about that life.”
I wanted validation.
🤦🏾♀️
There goes that word again…
Validation.
I didn’t realize how much seeking others' approval was influencing my decisions.
So I started looking back at different moments in my life.
Different choices.
Different situations.
And I noticed a pattern.
Ego spoke first.
Pride backed it up.
And my true self?
My wisdom?
My intuition?
She was usually the quiet voice I ignored.
So I made a change.
I started pausing.
Thinking.
Processing.
Because we’ve all had those moments where that reasonable voice shows up and says:
“Maybe rethink this,”
I call that voice my higher self.
The Goddess I strive to become every day. 💚
Sounds funny, maybe…
But it works.
I started listening to her.
Even now in 2026, I catch myself.
I call myself out in my own thoughts.
I pause before reacting.
I ask:
“Who is speaking right now?”
Because usually, when we react instantly out of anger, fear, embarrassment, or a need to prove something…
That’s ego.
Now, every situation is different.
But learning to recognize your ego before it takes control can change everything.
Some decisions last five minutes.
Some decisions affect your entire life.
So before you respond…
Before you react…
Before you feel the need to prove yourself…
Ask one honest question:
Who is showing up right now?
YOU?
EGO?
Or PRIDE?
Only you truly know the answer.
If this message connects with you, share it with someone you love and care about. Someone may need this reminder before ego makes the next decision.
Peace, Love & Light. 💚🧘🏾♀️