We tend to walk around feeling like we're the center of the universe and everything revolves around us. It's easy to see this trait in narcissists and egomaniacs. But even people with low self-esteem and a sense of worthlessness are the main character in their unhappy drama. It's simply the ego's nature to be self-centered.

But being the main character can become a heavy burden. So much responsibility, so much to worry about.

It can be refreshing and humbling to realize that we're not the main character. It's refreshing because then we don't have to worry so much about how things are going to turn out for us. The universe will be OK even if we're unhappy or fail to achieve a goal because -- we're not the main character. The universal story will continue.

Not being the main character is humbling because it brings the realization that everyone else feels like the main character in their drama too. We are just like every other human being and they are just like us. We see that other people are not merely supporting actors in our drama. They are starring in their own movie. They're real people with stories of their own. That's the basis of respect for others: Seeing them as human beings, gods and goddesses of their own universes, not just extras in our movie.

But let's not forget that life is a wonderful, maddening paradox. This too is true: We are the main character!

What if we really are the main character? What if the fate of the universe really depends on what we do? Then we'd want to live our life with total integrity. We'd want to enjoy and learn from every situation. We'd want to use our life energy every day to serve the highest good possible.

So when we're tempted to travel the low road, when we're feeling like our life is meaningless and what we do doesn't matter, just remember: We're being called to rise to the occasion, challenge ourselves, aim for the highest and best. The fate of the universe is hanging in the balance, we're the hero or heroine everyone is counting on to save the day because -- we are the main character!

And when we're feeling too full of ourselves, when we've really made a mess of things, when we're too concerned about our own problems, just remember: We can relax. It's not the end of the world because -- we're not the main character!