A lot more than you imagine
Your ego is you.
It is your self-awareness, that has the power to say “I.”
It is able to grasp reality and make choices.
Your ego engages with the world, regulates your impulses, solves problems, maintains, organizes, and controls your consciousness.
It’s your mind in action.
So, why does the ego get a bad rap?
For the most part, people denigrate the ego because it is linked in their minds to arrogance and self-glorification.
Also, Eastern philosophers and New Age mystics urge you to negate your ego.
Underneath criticism of ego lies an age-old dispute between altruism and egoism.
Which of these ethical systems you believe in will influence how you view the ego.
Altruism, unlike the benign view that most people have, dictates that you should live primarily for others, and not expect or be concerned with any personal benefits.
Egoism, on the other hand, is an ethical philosophy stating that your primary focus should be on your life, which includes your loved ones and all that you hold dear.
Altruism is essentially indiscriminate in its beneficiaries.
Egoism is focused on your benefits and values for living the best life possible.
Egoism also respects the rights of others to do the same, with all people respecting individual rights.
Ken West is the author of Your Ego: It’s Your Salvation, Not Your Original Sin, a book about the importance of a healthy ego, and how to help your ego become stronger and bolder. He is also the author of the books, Get What You Want, Your Life Zones, Capitalism WIIFM, and Achieve Your Purpose.
