The Self-Indulgence Known as the 'Privatization of Ability'

"I should be capable of more."
"My potential shouldn't end in a place like this."

We tend to treat the knowledge and skills we possess—our "abilities"—like treasures meant to make our own existence shine.

However, did you know that this "assumption that ability is one's own personal property" is actually a hotbed of "self-indulgence" that halts growth and drives us into a painful state of hoarding?

In this article, we will dissect the trap of "privatization," where ability is used for self-defense, and explore ways of thinking to break free from it.

1. The self-indulgence of using ability as a "shield for self-esteem"

A state of privatizing ability, in short, refers to a state where "ability has been turned into a tool to prove one's own worth."

When you fall into this state, the success or failure of your work or role is directly linked to the "value of you as a person."

If you succeed, you can bask in a sense of omnipotence, but if you fail, you are struck by the terror of feeling as though your entire existence has been denied.

To escape this terror, the mind unconsciously creates a structure of "self-indulgence."

That is the flight into "being the only one in a difficult situation."

"Since I am this busy, it can't be helped if I can't do it perfectly."
"Because the burden is concentrated only on me, I cannot perform at my true potential."

By intentionally remaining in such harsh circumstances, you always have an excuse ready for when you fail.

This is a highly sophisticated form of self-indulgence, where you privatize your ability as a "shield to avoid giving your all" in order to protect your pride.

2. The stagnation of ability born from the dissatisfaction of "only me"

When you think of ability as your own personal property, you become extremely poor at delegating to others.

"Only I can do this."
"The quality is higher if I do it myself."

Such pride, when turned inside out, is a private desire to "confirm one's own competence."

Succumbing to this desire and hoarding tasks may look like a strong sense of responsibility at first glance, but in reality, it is nothing more than "an obsession to protect one's own position."

As a result, your hands become overwhelmed with work you cannot process, and the alarm of dissatisfaction—"I am the only one having a hard time"—begins to ring out.

At this point, your ability is being wasted not for its original purpose of "solving the problem in front of you," but for the private purpose of "proving that you are special."

This is the true nature of the stagnation caused by the privatization of ability.

3. Objectifying ability as an 'outsourced resource'

To break free from this self-indulgence, it is necessary to apply the 'separation of ability' presented in my previous work.

Try to reframe your abilities not as a part of your own heart, but as 'high-performance equipment' or a 'reliable subcontractor' existing outside of you.

Ability is not an accessory to decorate yourself with, but merely a resource you are holding in trust.

If you can accept this, there will be no room left for self-esteem or pride to interfere.

• 'To solve this problem, how should I best allocate the 'abilities' I currently have at my disposal?'

• 'Wouldn't it be more efficient to use someone else's 'ability' for this part rather than my own?'

When you can maintain such cold objectivity, you will be liberated from the victim mentality of 'why is it always me?'

Do not privatize your abilities; commit yourself to making them function purely as 'tools'.

This is the attitude of a professional who has cast aside self-indulgence.

4. Unchaining yourself from the 'heavy shackles' of pride

When you stop privatizing your abilities, you will feel surprisingly light.

'I want to be thought of as amazing'
'I don't want to be thought of as incompetent'

Because the noise of self-esteem disappears, and your vision becomes clear.

Even if you fail, you can process it as the fact that 'the tool (ability) was not used appropriately' or 'the resources were insufficient'.

Since you yourself have not been rejected, you can immediately formulate the next strategy and move toward improvement.

You will no longer have 'time for self-indulgence' where you are swayed by emotional alerts and stop thinking.

The true nature of the curse of 'why is it always me?' actually lies within yourself, for having turned your own abilities into a 'cage' to protect yourself.

5. Unleash your abilities and breathe life into your role

As long as you are clutching your abilities as if they are 'your own,' they will never perform at 100% capacity.

This is because you become sluggish, covered in the grime of evaluation and self-preservation.

Stop using your abilities to protect yourself. Abandon the 'self-indulgence' of using busyness to prove your worth.

When you can make that decision, your ability will leap beyond the small frame of personal possession and regain its true brilliance.

That figure, carrying out their role calmly yet with tremendous precision, is what 'ability liberation' truly means.