Many of us would, if we knew what on earth the ego was. Indeed, trying to understand the totality of the human psychรฉ is complex.ย Platoย and Aristotle divided our psychรฉ into three parts; so did Freud with theย id, ego,ย andย super-ego.
Modern psychologists describe the ego as theย inner-narratorย of our self-consciousness; umpiring our thoughts, feelings, and actions. The egoโs judgements produce inner-conflict and creates identity crises. The ego isย impulsive rather than logical, visceral rather than reasonable.
Understanding the different ways the ego operates leads to overcoming it. Here are 8 manifestations:
1. Materialismย
The Vedics called itย Ahaแนkฤra; tying your self-worth together with objectsโa car, a house, a piece of jewelry.ย Ahaแนย refers to the Self;ย kฤraย is โany created thing.โ When an object has the ability to make you feel better or worse, youโre caught inย Ahaแนkฤra, of ego-attachment.
Advertisers exploit the ego and make us believe weโll feel better buying their product. Ironically, itโsย low self-esteemย that increases materialism. But itโs reversible;ย increasingย self-esteem through highlighting your immaterial qualities โ your sense of humor, your drive, your character, breaks the egoโs materialistic bondage.
Find your value and identity apart from external objects โ the things that cannot be taken away from you.
2. Trapped in the Past
The ego can go from romanticizing yourย past, to degrading and trapping you in your past. When scars begin to heal, it rips them open again; when working toward a great future, it whispers that your best days are behind you.
Our egos are afraid of the unknown. Our past experiences โ good or bad โ areย familiar, and weโre comfortable with whatโs familiar. Itโs the reason many stay inย bad relationships.
Realize your past does not define you, nor will it dictate your future. Although the egoโs intention may be to keep you safe by being comfortable, the pull towards the past cripples what is being created in your present, and for your future.
3. Inferiority Complex
The ego doesnโt just live next door to the Joneses, it mows their lawn, for free. It constantly speaks the language of โnot good enough.โ Any achievement is undermined, any accomplishment is mocked. Overcoming theย inferiorityย caused by ego means ceasing to play the comparison game; stepping away from the rat-race.
The ego dissolves when you run your own race, and step to the beat of your own drum. Find satisfaction in who you are today, and who you will become tomorrow. When the ego keeps looking to others, you need to lookย in the mirror.
4. Limitations and Scarcity
Our brainโsย reticular activation systemย (RAS) brings to attention what we subconsciously mark as important. If youโre considering a new BMW, youโll start noticing them everywhere.
The egoโs focus is one of limitation; itโs short sighted, and driven by fear of running out. As a result, your RAS sees everything in aย limited sense: not only finances, but also happiness and healthy relationships.
The ego always see the glass half empty and the cloud without the silver lining. Our perceptions shape reality, if you focus on limitations, you will surely experience them. Silence the ego, and choose to see the world of abundant possibilities.
5. Self-Sabotage
Alfred Lord Tennyson said, โโTis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.โ The ego doesnโt think so. Itย prefers to keep you in bubble-wrap rather than risk being hurt. And so when something isย heading in a good direction, the ego orchestratesย destructive behaviorย to avoid the โriskโ and stay safe. Remember the ego is afraid of the unknown, good or bad.
Embrace the experience, and be conscious of your ego trying to steer you off course just because youโre heading toward an unknown destination. Never let a potential โsadโ ending overshadow an incredible experience.
6. The Stoic
The ego doesnโt like being naked โ emotionally. It equates transparency and vulnerability withย weakness, so it puts up walls. But these walls truncate the full expression of your human self. Emotions are healthy, and should never be bottled up. It causes us to live less than who we truly are.
To let fear, ridicule, and judgment block your untethered emotions and beliefs is to hide behind the veil of ego.
7. Reacting Rather Than Respondingย
The ego is like an electric fence protecting a false, elevated identity โ ready to react at any minute. Every comment isย an insult, and any advice is criticism. Itโs not just wearing your heart on your sleeve, itโs wearing your self-worth on your sleeve, and then picking a fight.
The ego-free person is able to process before responding, to restrain the visceral and make room for the reasonable, to think before acting. Understand that personal attacks from other people reflects more of their character than yours; that will help your hyperactive-bodyguard ego to relax.
8. The Tyrant of Productivity
Weโreย workaholicsย because the ego measures our value by what we achieve and produce. Yet there is something profound in simply who we are as human beings. Weโre surrounded with infinite galaxies, but we are a speck. However, we are a speck with theย consciousnessย to somehow grasp the infinite. We are a nail that understands it is part of a mansion.
But the egoย gets lost in productivity and forgetsย reflection, awe, and appreciation. To create is a amazing ability โ but itโs a byproduct of our amazing being. From being comes creating, not the other way around.