Failure torments the ego while success nourishes it. Learning to embrace failure and success makes us equanimous and fills us with strength. The ego wants to hide in the hour of defeat, and reveal itself to the world in the hour of success. Doing the reverse frees us from the ego. Here is a nice exercise to lessen the ego: If someone comes to revile or condemn you, merrily agree with whatever he has said….....Swami Mukundananda