Ego Feels Good, Barbequia Feels Love
Barbequia, as we’ve discussed, is deeply personal—about following what you love, crafting your dreams, and giving yourself the freedom to revise them over time. In Barbequia, your goals and dreams can evolve daily, always aligned with what truly brings you peace and fulfillment. This philosophy is about creating a sanctuary that moves with you, a mental and emotional space you can carry wherever you are. It’s a way to live in harmony with yourself and engage meaningfully with the world around you, despite its chaos.
One thing you might notice is that, when describing Barbequia, we rarely focus on “feeling good” as an end goal. Instead, our emphasis is on peace. True peace, as it turns out, is something altogether different from merely feeling good. “Feeling good” often connects back to the ego, a state where satisfaction and pride mingle with the actions we take. Think of a moment that made you happy or gave you a sense of achievement. It may have been beautiful and virtuous, but if it felt good in a way that fed your sense of self, it was rooted in ego.
Ego, in many ways, is a kind of energy vacuum—it consumes without ever feeling fulfilled. Consider someone who always makes everything about themselves, who thrives on validation and self-importance. No matter how much recognition or admiration they receive, it’s never quite enough. Ego, like a black hole, draws everything into itself, yet remains perpetually unsatisfied. The act of seeking fulfillment through ego is inherently exhausting, for it depletes both the individual and those around them. Peace, on the other hand, doesn’t drain; it sustains and replenishes.
The Difference Between “Feeling Good” and “Being at Peace”
So, why emphasize peace over feel-good moments? “Feeling good” is often sparked by external acts, like the warm glow you feel when giving a homeless mother $20 and seeing her grateful tears. The action itself is noble, and the woman benefits from your kindness, but the satisfaction you derive from the act has an element of ego in it—the feeling of having done something commendable, that momentary affirmation of self-worth. In contrast, Barbequian peace is a state of love unfiltered by ego, where energy flows naturally toward the outcome and isn’t siphoned off to bolster one’s sense of self.
Imagine acting from a place of pure peace, where the action itself, grounded in love, requires no applause or affirmation. This is the love that transcends “good deeds” and enters into a space of quiet, enduring presence. This love does not need validation or reward; it exists freely, offering its fullness to the world without taking anything in return.
Historical Examples of Peace in Action
Think of figures throughout history who acted from this kind of peace. Although it might seem cliché, consider Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Zen Masters, or Jesus of Nazareth. These individuals embody the principle of pure action, often described as not letting “the right hand know what the left hand is doing.” There’s no sense of them celebrating themselves or their accomplishments. We don’t picture Jesus exclaiming with pride after healing the sick or resurrecting Lazarus. We don’t imagine Lao Tzu completing the Tao Te Ching with a triumphant “I did it!” or Gandhi congratulating himself for his contributions to India’s freedom. Instead, we see their actions as expressions of a peaceful, quiet certainty that their work was not just the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. In each case, their actions were motivated not by the need for recognition but by love—love for humanity, for truth, and for peace itself.
In this sense, Barbequia is about letting go of ego-driven rewards and allowing ourselves to be sustained by love. When we are at peace, our energy flows naturally, unblocked by the desires of ego. Actions arise out of love and compassion, and the joy is found not in recognition but in the simple, profound alignment of our actions with our values. Peace, therefore, is not a lack of feeling but a heightened state of presence and purpose. In Barbequia, we strive not just to feel good but to feel love—love in its purest form, which transcends ego and invites us into a life of enduring fulfillment.
In practicing Barbequian peace, we cultivate a life of gentle, transformative energy. It’s not that we avoid “feeling good” but that we understand its limitations and seek a greater depth of connection. We step into a state where love guides our actions, peace fuels our motivations, and our sense of self is free from the need for validation. Barbequia invites us to leave the ego’s shallow satisfaction behind and instead embrace a love so profound it becomes the very foundation of our existence.