As I study the realm of thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and emotions in the psyche of humanity; I have become intrigued by the diverse description and explanation of the human Ego. Although it is found in every one of us, the usual reference has depicted its meaning as an unworthy or negative trait. There has been very little comparison otherwise and therefore lays my dilemma. When I look into the unseen forces of nature, and evaluate what I believe is my true spiritual essence, it is hard for me to discard this natural inherent element called “Ego”.
The “Ego” has been portrayed in many philosophical and religious beliefs, as a cynical element found in individuals that cause the separation of which can inhibit us from determining our true nature. Considered by such beliefs, resembling a viral infection that can infiltrate our thinking and capable of defending its own existence. They may conclude that there is no worthy function for this emotional thought, other than to create havoc. If this is true, then why were we born with this inherent portion of thought? Ego has been categorized with wanting, desire, and or need, and has been denounced as a fruitless element to be cast aside when attaining enlightenment. Can it really be a bad thing to want to achieve more, or desire for the things that seem to make our life easier? Is it really wiser to abandon all forms of Ego for the sake of connecting to the omnipresent existence of our true selves?
I have personally fought a battle with a selfish ego, that shows no compassion for others, and misguides my thinking that evades the nature of my being, but I cannot condemn this inherent quality as the perpetrator of all false illusion. I find it very hard to totally abandon any form of emotion, feeling, or even thought, as a hindrance toward enlightenment. We have thoughts, emotions, and feelings that can hinder our progress, but it is only through the misinterpretation and misuse of these inherent attributes we possess, that is our ultimate foe. If anyone can lay a solid foundation that will explain why any natural and inherent attribute, such as Ego, is totally useless, I will be glad to entertain such a theory. Otherwise I will consider the Ego as a vital instrument of persuasion, which can increase our awareness and help produce a sustainable need to enhance our expansion in the co-creation process.
Egocentric, or egotism is a derivative of ego which in meaning, is very much negative, however it is only the exaggerated form of the original description. This is an example of the way we can expand or redefine something that displaces its true value, and eventually is misunderstood in our comprehension. Disassociation with our ego, can remove any identification within us that tends to separate us from all that is. It is believed that when we dis-associate our identity, we are accomplishing true awareness of the oneness of our being to which it belongs. Although this may be true, are we really better off removing our identity or self-worth completely? In the confines of a misdirected or inflated ego we may devalue our self-worth and deny the dignity we deserve, but we must identify ourselves with something in order to justify anything we do. A priest or a monk would never have committed to their own self-improvement had it not been for ego. No one would accomplish anything of value if it were not for the drive of ego within each of us to be something better.
I will acknowledge that our Ego may be the force behind much of our misdirected intentions, but it is the misdirection of our intensions and not the ego itself that is to blame. The ego does not produce intentions, it merely magnifies our intent. To say, that ego is full of bad intentions is to say we would be better off without intent. Life would be pretty dull. To say, without ego there would be no self and the resulting benefit is our true nature, sounds a bit beyond the compatibility of the world we live in. We all think on an individual scale, and we must have some belief of our purpose and meaning! Granted, I believe we are all connected to a universal consciousness, but we are still individual pieces of the whole. It is our individual part that expresses, and it is the ego that motivates our expansion for the good of the whole, when used in proper alliance.
The aspiration of wanting to be more than you are should never be in association with ill-fated ego. The right to choose how you perceive the way to attain enlightenment may determine the definition you give any attribute you possess. We should never undervalue our divine structure by excluding any of our inborn qualities we share in common. As we examine the precision of nature, and the perpetual duality that exists, it is relatively certain that our inherent Ego was not placed there by mistake.
I am still, and will always be a Student of life. Perhaps one day or a given moment, one may acquire complete awareness of their true being, and may find it necessary to abandon all forms of ego, it will then be obvious. Until that moment comes for me, I must choose to live in the perception of what I am aware of. I am aware that I am an independent individual within my own thoughts and feelings. I have come to believe that I belong to a universal form of consciousness and that at some time or given moment, I will connect to the oneness of all that is. For now, it is the pleasure of the journey that excites me. I must accept what feels right in my heart, and accept my Ego that drives my aspirations and awareness toward something better.
Article Source: Is Having an Ego Good or Bad?
