Everybody has an Ego
Most people are familiar with the idea of someone being ‘egotistical’ if they are inconsiderate of others habitually, but we are not commonly taught that by becoming introspective about who we are and what motivates our actions, we can learn to live from the ‘heart space’ and keep our ego in check. Everybody has an ego and that is not inherently bad. As a clinical psychologist in Surrey, I am able to understand how the ego operates and the part it plays in our overall mental health.
World Ego Awareness Day
May 11th is World Ego Awareness Day. First created by a non-profit organisation called the Ego Awareness Movement in 2018, this day is dedicated to encouraging people to become more mindful of the way they feel and to operate less from the ego. The aim is to adopt the view of humbleness and to become aware of how powerful ones ego can be. It is also dedicated to educating the world on egotism and how behaving narcissistically towards others can be abusive . Colloquially referred to as invisible abuse, or sometimes narcissistic abuse, behaving from a purely self-serving, egotistical viewpoint can strip other people of their autonomy as they are viewed as objects to be manipulated instead of viewing others with compassion.
Unhealthy Ego
This is sometimes a learned behaviour and unless challenged the ego can act in ways which actually lead to a breakdown of relationships in various domains in life. In some cases, the ego acts out as a form of protection against suffering, if it has strongly associated emotional vulnerability as a threat. This may have developed as a result of traumatic experiences in formative years and can result in, the ego can prevent emotional, psychological and spiritual growth.
Healthy Ego
A ‘healthy ego’ refers to somebody who is self-reflective yet self-assured because our ego represents our self-image. In seeking therapy, the ego may feel threatened initially if there is a wound existing around ‘not being good enough’, however if you re-define this belief by acknowledging that you are worthy of receiving help from others, you can do so without letting your self-image falter. It is possible to change the subconscious beliefs that are linked to the messages from the ego with repetition and consistency. The therapy I provide as a trained clinical psychologist can also help with changing your self-image for the better, so if you feel your ego is having a negative impact in your life, get in touch today.
Contact Dr Gurpreet Kaur
If you think you could benefit talking about your ego – get in touch with Clinical Psychologist Dr Gurpreet Kaur today by filling out our online enquiry form.
