We all have an ideal self, someone we’d rather be instead of who we currently are. Maybe it’s becoming more magnetic, confident, or attractive, among other things.

But there are reasons why we want to become like that. perhaps to avoid the pain of being who we are or the anticipation of future pleasures and delights (or both).

The reasons behind it can vary.

However, it’s crucial to be mindful of what we project onto our ideal self because that image often reflects the unconscious desires and instincts of our lower self, rather than our true higher self.

For instance, the desire for fame often mirrors what we see on TV and social media—the glamorous lives of the rich and famous. Likewise, the pursuit of wealth might stem from similar motives, or simply the desire to avoid tasks we despise.

But the true question is: what do you want to become after you get everything that your lower self desires? If you now finally achieve all the money, fame, time, food, sex, territory, etc… what would you truly like to become and do?

Sure, we all desire money, sex, fame… It’s undeniably better to feel depressed in a 5-star hotel while eating caviar than in a 30-floor apartment building while munching on frozen pizza with a neighbor’s kid screaming nearby. No argument there.

However, these are merely the superficial desires of our lower self. While a certain level of comfort is necessary, what happens when we fulfill all those desires? That’s the real question. What do we genuinely want to become then?

Many wealthy individuals find themselves in crisis at this stage. They realize they need to discover their true selves because true happiness and purpose aren’t found by merely gratifying the desires of our lower self. These desires may keep us occupied for a while — perhaps our entire lives — as we chase what we mistakenly believe to be the ultimate goal.

Yet, there’s something higher than that. And you can achieve it right now, at this very moment: your true higher self, the one connected to your purpose and the universal Will.

And fortunately for all of us, this doesn’t depend on how rich and famous you are. But instead, it depends on genuine self-knowledge and awareness, understanding who and what you are.

That’s the end game of charisma. Even though you may get the tools you need to achieve the goals of your lower self, the end goal is much broader than that.