SELF-ABNEGATION.

The mythologist Joseph Campbell said be who you are.  Who we are is not our egoic selves.  Who we are is the Atman.  The term self-abnegation means relinquishing, surrendering oneself as a means of transcending the ego.  Also termed dying to oneself, it is necessary for spiritual advancement.  We cannot see the Atman, who we are, if all we see is our egoic selves.