What Is Ego

“Ego is evil. It can trick you into doing things you wouldn’t normally do. Unlike self respect ego can be quite destructive.” I’ve also heard people say “you seemed egoistic when I first met you” which means that it’s a very noticeable trait. But if you were to actually read about the term “ego” you’d get to know that ego actually refers to the conscious mind. Therefore, when we call someone “egoistic” we’re simply criticising them for who they consciously are in other words we dislike their nature. Telling someone they seemed egoistic when you first met them indicates that you were unimpressed by the way they conducted themselves and the energy they were exuding.

The ego we refer to when we speak negatively of a person is the presence of an inflated pride. Taking a common example if you’re told that you cannot perform a particular task you would go beyond your limits to prove that person wrong. When I asked my mom “what do you think about ego?” To which she smiled and said “it’s dangerous, even if you’re an introvert you’re called egoistic. We’re all quick to judge and just because someone isn’t outgoing we assume they’ve got a big ego. It shouldn’t be that way. “ There’s no way of being certain whether it’s someone’s“ego” that’s making them behave a certain way. Looking back now I wonder how many people I’ve been quick to judge and form opinions about probably when they were having a mad day or felt like they were not in their comfort zone. We avoid people because of their ego. We dislike people for their ego. The term however is much more complex with multiple meanings. If you began to search and read about ego you’ll see different definitions and opinions. From a psychological point of view ego is your conscious behaviour. From a layman’s point of view ego is synonymous to being stubborn and somewhat rude as well. I myself have been in quite a dilemma since I read more about it.

Some quotes on ego :

“The ego is the single biggest obstruction to the achievement of anything.”- Richard Rose

“Ego is just like dust in the eyes. Without clearing the dust, we can’t see anything clearly, so clear the ego and see the world.” -Anonymous

“When the ego dies, the soul awakes.” -Mahatma Gandhi

“The ego, however, is not who you really are. The ego is your self-image, it is your social mask, it is the role you are playing. Your social mask thrives on approval. It wants control, and it is sustained by power because it lives in fear.” -Ram Dass

(source: the greatness within)