The ego distorts reality

The ego distorts reality

The ego continually needs to give a good image to society, lacks humility and falls very often in the exercise of pride. However, it should also be distinguished from that sense of the more defensive "I", a psychic instance where one recognizes and defines his or her own identity. Letting, therefore, that our ego sharpens its most negative reverse can certainly be a problem.

The ego according to different authors

Few concepts are as complex to define as the ego. Immanuel Kant understood this dimension as an entity where every mental representation that the person carries out was included. For Sartre, it was another part of consciousness. However, the most interesting and well-known definition is provided by psychoanalysis.

For Sigmund Freud, the ego is the representation of reality and reason. It is he who controls the drives of the "it," and who tries in some way to satisfy the latter's wishes in a socially appropriate way. Now, it should be said that the most popular and perhaps associated vision of that somewhat more negative and complex aspect of the ego, is provided by mystical and oriental philosophies such as Buddhism.

According to these perspectives, the ego is the source of suffering. As Eckhart Tolle explains, we often live in excess of our thoughts, our needs, and the codes inherited from our family and society, shaping a false and aligned dimension such as the ego.

In the latter case, this concept is like an illusion, a fantasy that aims to place itself above others. When we find ourselves dominated by our ego, one's opinion of oneself is distorted, the true "I" moves away and knowing oneself is complicated.

The ego needs to believe itself superior to disguise its true feeling of inferiority

What happens if you let yourself be dominated by the ego?

People who live dominated by the ego are deceived, believe themselves superior and do not see reality. It is a thought error that tries to make a presentation of how it would like to be, instead of as it really is.

The ego is also a social mask, a role that separates us more and more than we really are. This mask needs flattery, approval of others, needs to be in control of situations and people, wants to have power because in the depths of his being there is fear.

It is like a character that is created. The ego moves away from simplicity and is characterized by complication, it is like a performance of the ideal, a false self-esteem that needs to be projected so that no one sees the great insecurity that is hidden inside.

Effects of living attached to the ego

Focusing on an existence rooted in the ego will cause us to lack initiatives for fear of failure. This dimension puts us in a comfortable and routine area were to feed the false "I" with compliments and acceptance. The familiar terrain will be your habit of life, a place where they accept you.

You will not want to risk the unknown for fear of receiving rejections or criticism. A person who has true self-esteem is not afraid to explore the unknown because the disapproval of others accepts them and does not bother him. Take the opportunity to learn what goes wrong, without damaging your personal worth.

What happens if the ego is not fed?

When the ego is not fed from outside, the person feels bad. Emotions can experience all kinds of negative feelings, such as shyness, anger, grief, fear, etc ...

There we will see that it is false security in disguise. When the person receives criticism, it is not accepted and is not recognized when the mask falls and we can realize that we are not really who we think.

According to the ego, your identity depends on what others think of you. That is why it is so important not to let your life dominate, because otherwise you will be like a leaf that moves to the sound of the wind based on what you receive from society.

How to dominate the ego and let our true essence come out?

The ego develops in the form of protection. Normally we let ourselves be dominated by him because that way we feel safer in the face of attacks. The voice of the ego confuses us and distances us from our true selves. It prevents you from feeling from the heart, from the simplicity of your emotions.

Stop focusing your gaze on the outside

It is important that you are able to see that all the needs of external acceptance are nothing more than illusions, fantasies that your ego has created for you. You don't need any of that to be happy, all you need is to immerse yourself in simplicity and humility.

Do not pretend to be more, nor do you think you are less because in the end, we are all equal. Our inner essence is not so complicated. Try to eliminate from your life the faults, the demands, the perfectionism, the need to win or to be right, the greed ...

Life from the simplicity

Opt for the enjoyment of small things, appreciate the beauty of life, obsess with personal satisfaction. These can be fun practicing hobbies, personal care, cultivating true friendships, contact with nature, artistic expression ...

Yoga to dominate the ego

As they reveal to us from a study carried out by the University of Southampton, the United Kingdom, the practice of yoga helps us to be more present, connected with our inner being so that we can "thin the ego" and take care of our self-esteem. A healthy practice with great psychological and physical benefits backed by science. It's worth a try.

In the end, we realize that the human being is neither as simple nor as complicated as we believe or make us believe at first. If we put aside the thoughts, fears, external conditions that paralyze us and dehumanize us, we will discover our essence.

An essence in which we are simply complex beings, who only want to enjoy the existence in good company. Let love flow, accept yourself as you are and shape a less truculent and tangled life. Listen to that inner essence from the relax, we all carry inside a great person that is very worthwhile, do not let the ego cloud you and get the worst of you.