EGO

 

                                                                                  EGO

 

                           The term ego has attracted human attention for quite long. Human attitude to the term has been an outward repulsion. Why the prefix “outward” is used? All individuals do harbour this trait. With almost no exception, Ego is an omnipresent malady in humans. To realize the dimensions of this phenomenon a great hurdle is ego itself as it exercises a strong stranglehold and suffocates the faculty called rational thinking. Slowly it expands in to a syndrome.

                          Origin:

                          Ego seems to grow with age. Truly, to fix the onset of ego in an individual is very difficult. But, it can be seen that certain environmental influences do ignite, nurture and amplify the egoistic behaviour. Obviously, a sense of belief that others would not tow our line of thought influences one to somehow develop a social acceptance for self. In the process, the person drifts to this greater evil than to patiently assess why [s]he is unable to convince even the people around. A very strong contributor to ego is an unfounded prejudice that ‘I am more neglected’. Such sufferers in trying to exercise their pre -eminence, get in to the habit of rigid suggestions indicative of ego. In another way too ego gets planted. The sycophancy of lesser mortals makes one believe that others are inferior / irrelevant. So, people succumb to the malady more from extraneous factors than by any personal effort. Another aspect that adds to the complexity is the silent domination of one’s mind by his / her ego. But its effect is finely eloquent. To weigh the situation and to draw the most plausible inference one has to develop a keen sense of judgment – of persons, statements and intentions. Inadequacy in this sphere enhances the susceptibility to depression or sycophancy          

                            Is ego a condemnable entity?

                           A dispassionate review would reveal that no human trait is condemnable outright. Ego is not consciously cultivated by any one. At best, the individual is only guilty of succumbing to it or failing to assess people around. Ego held under clutches would do a world of good. My observation is ego is integral to the mind.  Indeed it works up one’s flair / ambition to outclass others. It is not a crime if one desires excellence, so long as the person adheres to ethical standards. I strongly perceive that a spirit of sustaining the effort can be kept alive by the healthy ego that “I can do it” but not letting it expand to “I alone can do it”. Containing the ego to the limits of decency is every individual’s duty. It is well with in our means if we always remember that nothing can be “done” individually, except that of “thinking”. Materializing a thought always needs participation from every other quarter. An arrested ego not on display is what carries the game of living better than the one displayed, which unfailingly ruins. I am sure no one strives for a defeat.

                            In conclusion it may be suggested that ego is not a trait that can be totally dispensed with. It is wiser to learn the tricks of sustaining the lowest levels of essential ego than fall a prey to the unscheduled praise from sycophants.              Prof.. K. Raman