The Dichotomy of Ego

How often have you met the class of people who have an extreme level of self-esteem? Under normal circumstances, you would say – very often. The class of the people assume an air of unbridled self-pride and condescension and are popularly assessed as “assholes” or more euphemistically, egoists. They butcher team-spirit, ramrod their will through you and make you to experience a dwarfed stature of your own. In short, they get on your nerves!

Often, they hold an over-inflated pride in their potentials and achievements. So over-inflated, that criticisms or even minor feedbacks can unpack a great level of aggression among them. The explanation for this observation lies in the fact that they perceive those innocuous feedbacks as a threat to their self-image, their ego. In your work environment they can be looked upon as a ticking bomb, even a manager would handle with care. Do anything, but don’t trifle with their ego!

In most of the cases the aforesaid class of people are displaying what I would like to call – Immature Ego.

But there exists another divine form of ego which is rare, but a reality. This form of ego embodies fountainheads of constructive change and progress, acting as a bulwark of self-belief and conviction. When one thinks differently, society pans him, uses brute force to make him give up his faith and stamps his views as unreasonable. In such a morale-crushing time, what might power the unreasonable man is that rare form of ego.

Let’s try to get it in this way. Society is in constant battle with your change-bearing notions. If what you dream does not coincide with what society wants, it would try every trick to kneel you down. In most of the cases you will kneel down. But if you don’t, you bring the change. Throughout this battle, you were helped by your will and ego – which is nothing but your love for your dream and for your own work. A sacred possession – isn’t it?

Let’s call this form of ego – Mature Ego. It’s actually your love for your passion and is as rare as Howard Roarks in real life.

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