Laying down of ego is one of the most liberating things i've tried to do . It can make you free from the fetters and woes of struggle and strife and make you content and even happy with what you have right now.
This dosn't mean passiveness in life, rather it frees you to enjoy now whilst keeping your eye to the future . Life to me, seems more to be about the enjoyment and satiety of the journey rather than the final destination , drink and drugs just speed one to the final destination in a binge of gluttony .
Bestwishes, M