How to Free Yourself from ‘Ego’

Your ‘ego’ can be viewed as the person whom you think and feel that you are.

Ego comes from the Latin word for “I” or the ‘Self’. It has many meanings depending on the perspective. For instance, according to Freud’s topographical model of the mind, ‘ego’ is the realistic part that mediates between the desires of the ‘id’ and the ‘super-ego’, while for Carl Jung, ‘ego’ is the center of the field of consciousness which contains our conscious awareness of existing and a continuing sense of personal identity as well as that of others. 

To keep it simple, your ‘ego’ can be viewed as the person whom you think and feel that you are. It is your sense of identity and self-worth.

Sometimes we refer to the term ‘ego’ to describe someone's character such as “this person has a large ego”, meaning that they have an inflated sense of who they are. However, this does not mean that that person is necessarily ‘narcissistic’. One could be egoistic and have trouble seeing another person’s point of view, however the reason for why that might be will be left for another blog.

Having some degree of ‘ego’ is a natural part of being human. Being too involved in one’s ‘ego’ can be harmful to oneself and explain the reasons for our struggles. For example, when we feel a sense of inferiority compared to others, it is our ‘ego’, when we take something personally, it is our ‘ego’, and also seeing ourselves as superior to everyone else, is also our ‘ego’. 

Learning about your own ego will help you understand yourself better and possibly learn to find improved ways of relating with yourself as well as others.

Few things can happen when we are unknowingly driven by our ‘Ego’:

☐ We take things personally. 

☐ What we do is never enough.

☐ We will have unrealistic expectations. 

☐ We need to be liked and validated.

How to free yourself from ‘Ego’:

It is important to know that ‘ego’ will always be a part of you as a human. Learning to get to know your ego and live with it is what can set you free. Below are a few suggestions of how you can work towards achieving this:

☐ Be curious about mindfulness.

☐ Learn how to calm your mind and body through meditation.

☐ Remember that thoughts are just thoughts and you do not have to identify with them.

☐ Choose your thoughts more wisely and adopt an open mind.

☐ Surrender to the need to be in control of everything.

☐ Enjoy the silent moments with yourself and be grateful.

Talking with a qualified psychotherapist helps to understand one’s ego and how to break free from the patterns we might have been in for a long time. The process of inner change begins with taking that first step. Sessions online can be as effective as in person.