is ego necessary for a human being?

Question

if yes....then why does it form the root cause of so many broken relationships?....if no...isn't it one of the traits which decides a human's individuality?

how can one handle ego issues??

Answer 1

Depends what one means by "ego", quite apart from the Freudian use. A sense of self, and identity, is certainly necessary I think - we build that from our response to externalities. So it develops and changes through life - by how we choose to experience it, and what we learn. In a way, we define ourselves by what we define as "other". Conversely, our sense of self can be constructed or diminished, by how we respond to others, too - a domineering priest or parent, for instance. So eventually we need an "ego", or sense of self which is secure enough to (a) withstand attack by others or by circumstances (b) seek the changes to "self" which are inevitable if we learn and (c) retain integrity under the changes life inevitably brings (e.g. loss, age, death). So this "ego" is far removed from the narcissism that most people mistake for it. Look to the world to find yourself, and reflect and meditate to find what you really have discovered and become. That requires a minimum of fixed preconceptions, and more honest courage than most can muster. Them's my sentiments, anyway!

Answer 2

Oh please, don't be ridiculous....lol

Ego is not necessary, ego is who we are.

Every time you say " I " this or that, you're saying Ego this or that. Whether you say it, think it, feel it, whatever. I touch, I hear, I speak, I feel, I think, I know.

I = Ego = Reality

How can you handle reality?

First of all, by realizing that reality is within you, this ego, is within you, not outside. If you can realize this, then you will have taken the first step. This is what I call to wake up and smell the coffee. IF you can't do this, then you can't handle it, forget about it and go on with the bliss....lol

On the other hand, we are social beings, as you can see that your ego is not the only one....lol...Coincidence?

How can this be?

The world is my(ego) world, and at the same time, there are other egos in it. Well, some people call this Collective Consciousness.

I learned this the hard way and I really wish you all good luck!

Answer 3

i agree that ego is necessary for a human being but only at that time when it is needed showing ego un necessarily always results in broken relationships and cause a wrong opinion about u... u should show ego when u found that some one is trying to harm your self prestige ..one should think about both side of the situation before taking any decision... because one cant always be right

Answer 4

Ego is a must for every human. As you said, it is the determinant of a human's individuality.
Though we could say that we can handle ego issues by give and take policies, it is an highly impossible thing. The best solution would be to maintain relationship with a person who suits your ego.

Answer 5

Every individual is specific due to ones EGO (I-ness). This is every important for everyone.

I would like to use understanding the ego rather than handle or control it, because guidance is always better and friendly than any thing else.

our ego develops in the way we live and interact with others.
so one way to guide it will be to carefully selecting our living style, friends, and trying to live with those that we cannot change.
our thoughts are the best way to guide the ego !!! And this depends on the food we eat, the breathing type we adopt and the environment we live.
Most of us the brain dominates and leads our life as per the circumstances in our life.
taking the brain from this mode to be overridden by the soul is a sadhana PROCESS taught in the meditation methods. they mainly use breath synchronising techniques and concentration.

Answer 6

Yes, ego is a conscious point of view that separates the world from itself. Without that, we'd not be human. One handles ego issues intellectually and with emotional self-control, by understanding that one's desires and attachments are not absolutely necessary. They are only desired by the ego, and happiness is often increased by letting go of these desires, instead of clinging ever tighter to the pursuit of them. It's only when a person identifies himself as his own ego desires, such that he can't think of another person as anything more than a way to satisfy his own wants, that they become the cause of broken relationships.

Answer 7

No, it is not necessary that a person is born with egoism . Look humans are embedded with egoism and not egoism with humans. Yes, its true that it is a root cause of many broken relationships as a person feels superior to other and so he may feel he doesn't need the other person or feels that he needs to be with some one of his equal.No one may not show his individuality by showing or boasting about how great he is. It can be shown by other ways too. well unfortunately if u want to handle ego issues you will have to show the person that its egoism that kills wisdom of a person and you ll have to be very patient in dealing such situations.

Answer 8

YES !
Ego is the essence of a human being. Its how he perceives himself (herself). Yes...it is one of the traits which decide a human's individuality. Relationship problems are about misunderstanding or intolerance of the other person's indivuality or of how he perceives himself. If one is at peace with his own ego he is in a better place to understand the ego of his partner. Ego does not cause relationship problems/ Ego is an appreciation of ones own self - relationship problems are usually the result of a lack of understanding of ones own self and therefore that of ones partner.

Answer 9

No it's not necessary at all. Ego is basically pride or self esteem extending beyond the required limits. Ego doesn't contribute in deciding ones individuality, self esteem does. Since the limits are always confusing, we at times wrongly feel that it's our ego that decides our individuality.

All the best...

:-)

Answer 10

Both yes and no, largely depending on what we mean. There are two general definitions or meanings for the term "ego".

1) The first is that "ego" refers to the actual structure of consciousness which allows us to have a functional self which can differentiate itself, its body, its wants and desires, feelings and emotions, thoughts and ideas, from external events and other people. Ego as structure tends to be how psychology, particularly Freudian, uses the term.

Ego in this sense is necessary. Human beings who exist without it are considered mentally insane and end up in mental hospitals.

2) "Ego" used in the second sense refers to the fundamental identification with a false limited self, usually the body/mind or some mental image of ourselves, and the subsequent existential impulses, motives, and drives that such an identification entails. This is how ego is usually referred to in spiritual literature.

Ego in this sense isn't an actual structure of the mind, but rather something more like a deep seated belief or conviction. As a "belief" or conviction, it is not necessary for a human being, as the vast majority of spiritual literature (past and present) seem agreed upon. Moreover, according to various thoughts in spirituality, this identification is actually the root cause of all human suffering and cruelty.

The problem, it is felt, isn't our ideas about ourselves, or our bodies, but rather that we feel so strongly attached to these things as who we really are. This attachment prevents us from actually being ourselves, and so we operate out of the false sense of self. An analogy might be mistaking a friend's CD for your own, and therefore getting angry that they are using it. The problem isn't that they are using the CD, the problem is that you falsely believe that CD is your own. This is similar to the way spiritual literature defines ego. The suffering of human beings is not because the body and mind are limited, subject to death or contradiction, illness, loss of security, displeasure, social disrespect etc. But rather the problem lies in our conviction that we are the body and mind -- that is, the problem is ego -- and therefore the "false" assumption that all these problems are directly affecting us.

So "ego" in this second sense is something that is not necessary for human beings, and can be transcended . . . and according to spiritual literature, such transcendence not only result in perfect happiness and peace, but also results in a much more functional, compassionate, loving, intimate, alive human being.

Hope I've done service to this topic given my limited understanding.