Christopher Hyatt’s statement—“IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOURSELF GET RID OF YOURSELF FIRST”—carries the raw, confrontational energy of radical transformation. At first glance, it seems paradoxical: how can self-improvement begin with self-erasure? But Hyatt, isn’t speaking in riddles—he’s pointing to something fundamental about identity, limitation, and personal power.

The Illusion of the Fixed Self

The idea that you have a static self is the first trap. We tend to think of ourselves as continuous entities with stable identities—”I am this way,” “I have these traits,” “This is who I am.” But in reality, what we call “the self” is a construct, a patchwork of habits, conditioning, and inherited scripts. Hyatt’s statement suggests that genuine transformation is impossible as long as you remain shackled to this illusion.

The “you” that seeks improvement is the same “you” that is resisting change. The ego clings to a sense of self not because it’s useful, but because it’s familiar. To break free, you have to dismantle the very thing you assume to be you.

The Tyranny of Your Own Story

Here’s the thing…

Most people live inside a story they didn’t fully choose. Culture, upbringing, media, and authority figures shape a personal mythology that dictates what is possible.

• “I’m not creative.”
• “I’ve always been bad at X.”
• “I’m the kind of person who just doesn’t do Y.”
• “I know myself, and this is just how I am.”

These statements aren’t truths; they are self-imposed limits. They are spells cast by repetition, each utterance reinforcing the illusion of permanence. If you accept that “this is who I am,” then all self-improvement efforts are doomed from the start—they become cosmetic adjustments rather than deep rewiring.

To truly change, you must kill the old script. Not revise it. Not tweak it. Burn it.

The Ritual of Ego-Death

In chaos magick, the destruction of self is often a prerequisite for enlightenment. Rituals of ego-death—whether induced through meditation, extreme experience, psychedelic states, or deep psychological work—strip away the narratives we use to define ourselves.

This isn’t just about spiritual insight; it’s about power. When you see through the illusion of the fixed self, you become free to become anything. You’re no longer bound to a single version of yourself. You can shape-shift, adapt, and rewrite your reality at will.

• The warrior version of you doesn’t give a damn about your fear.
• The artist version of you isn’t shackled by self-doubt.
• The trickster version of you doesn’t hesitate to break old patterns.

These aspects of self exist as potentials, but you have to let go of the one identity you’re gripping onto to make room for them.

Getting Rid of Yourself in Practice

So what does it actually mean to “get rid of yourself”?

1. Interrogate Every Assumption About Yourself
   Take inventory of the qualities, traits, and beliefs you assume to be fundamental to who you are. Then, ask: Who told me this? Where did this come from? If an external force installed it, consider whether it serves you or imprisons you.
   
2. Destroy an Aspect of Your Identity
   Pick one part of yourself that feels essential—something that defines you. Now, for a week, act as if it’s not true. If you always say, “I’m not the kind of person who does X,” then for a week, do X relentlessly. See what happens when you step outside the frame.
   
3. Play with Radical Re-invention
   Reality Hackers have long used identity play as a tool for transformation. Try adopting a completely different persona for a day, a week, or longer. Dress differently. Speak differently. Use a different name. You’ll quickly realize that the self is more fluid than you imagined.
   
4. Step Into the Void
   There will be a moment where you feel like you’re “no one,” where you feel untethered and unrecognizable. This is the fertile ground for true change. Most people run from this feeling and retreat to their old selves. Instead, stay with it. This is where you build a new identity from conscious choice rather than past programming.
   
5. Create the New Self Intentionally
   Once you’ve stripped away the old identity, ask: Who do I want to become? What version of myself would serve my highest purpose? Then, don’t just “aspire” to be that version—embody it. Speak as them. Act as them. You’re not faking it; you’re becoming it.
   

The Endgame: Becoming a Self-Directed Entity

Hyatt’s challenge isn’t about obliteration for its own sake. It’s about freedom. When you free yourself from the prison of an inherited identity, you become a self-directed entity—someone who consciously crafts their own existence rather than passively inhabiting a pre-scripted role.

The world is full of people trying to improve themselves while clinging desperately to the old self they refuse to shed. This is why most transformation efforts fail.

Hyatt’s message is brutal but true: If you want to change, kill the old you first.

Then, from the ashes, build something worthy.