OdishaPlus Bureau
In our everyday life we often talk about ego. Some say ego is our worst enemy. Whatever it is, ego definitely affects our life a great deal. We’ll be discussing on ego today in the column Finding Hope with DLM.
What are the problems the ego may lead us to?
The major problem is that the ego never lets us learn and accept things. Learning causes the true growth. And in order to learn effectively one first of all needs to accept the ignorance that lies within. Ego never lets you learn and reflect on your actions or behaviours. That way ego may lead us to an existence devoid of learning and progress.
How to manage the ego?
Ego can be managed through a process of knowledge, reflection and realization. We must develop a habit of knowing ourselves. Self-knowledge helps in self-management. Observed minutely, ego has two distinct facets. They can be called positive ego and negative ego. In any situation positive ego strives for achieving self-improvement and excellency through rigorous efforts; whereas the negative ego is replete with negative emotions including but not limited to competition, intolerance, jealousy and revenge. Ego, as commonly understood, refers to the negative ego. In order to manage ego we need to be aware of its consequences. An atmosphere of purity and positivity is a prerequisite.
Can one live without ego?
Very good question indeed! One can live surely. But it all depends on your idea of ego. How you understand ego is instrumental. If you can manage your ego to let you grow amidst all odds, there is absolutely no problem. But it shouldn’t hit your goals and roles very badly. We mustn’t let our ego erode our love, the essence of our life. And we must remember that ego and love can never stay together. So you have to choose one. Sometimes the ego in us bars us from being sensitive and understanding. We often find it hard to say sorry even if we commit a mistake. Love favours the relationship, while the ego favours one’s personal pride and the personally perceived sense of the self which may not always work in our favour.
Finally, how to overcome the challenges posed by the ego?
We should be flexible enough to learn and accept things. Acceptance leads to expansion. We must reflect on our past actions and muse on their impact. In any case we need to choose love over loathing, faith over fear, understanding over unrest and purity over profanity. Moreover, the vital energy of the ego can be directed towards the creatively positive interests and goals. That way we can improve upon ourselves continually.
