Bump! Just wanted to hear some more input.

I probably have a too large ego.

I'm about to get knocked down a peg, as I'm starting a new job. Nothing like being the new guy for giving you a dose of humility

It gonna be interesting for sure

Eating humble pie is good for the soul. Everyone should have a slice or two every now and then; keeps you balanced and level-headed, and likeable and approachable by others.

I concur...    

Whether one agrees or disagrees with my post here doesn't matter: It's just my observation/s experience/s..

The ego is an ugly thing. I submit right here that no one needs even a smidgen of ego: it stands to only get in the way. In the way of enlightenment. In the way of true self-discovery. In the way of proper communication. Ego is an obstructing force no matter how I look at it or from what angle. Ego = Ugly.

Where one may improve themselves, one often does not because the ego obscured the message/s; the wisdom from the messenger.

Where two people may communicate openly, freely, two people often do not because the ego got in the way for one or both parties and the lines of communication were sufficiently destroyed before they were ever given any fair and balanced chance.

It gets in the way when we meet people, when we communicate, when we *should* and sure could be learning from others. It gets in the way of so many things I've spent many years now ridding myself of the idea of an ego. The sense, implications and inferences surrounding "I" have been, and continue to be, rethought.

To quote a towering mind of the past, Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say 'I think,' 'I am,' but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God to-day. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence. Before a leaf-bud has burst, its whole life acts; in the full-blown flower there is no more; in the leafless root there is no less.

Its nature is satisfied, and it satisfies nature, in all moments alike. But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time.

Like it or not it's a pre-requisite of existence/sentience ...;)

Then I submit you're not using the most correct word (when you use 'ego'). There is no need for the 'ego'. It's not intrinsically human. It's an additive. Unnecessary, at that.

Humility, strength, the courage of our convictions, fortitude, tenacity, gratitude are all beautiful things and even if one doesn't currently practice these, they can all be learned. But nowhere in there (or in life) is having an ego necessary. Perhaps many mean 'confidence' when they say ego. Perhaps they confuse confidence with ego because of the many who, with an inflated ego, take confidence to that 'next level'. In this case: too much confidence tends to breed egotism. But, linguistically and logically speaking, confidence and ego *are* indeed vastly different.

I say confidence is a necessary component, indeed. Not ego, though.

My ego was so big I had to tote it around in a dump truck... then somebody hot-wired it and drove away.

"whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right". Every person I ever met who excelled at something has a belief that they are very good at what they do. I believe that ego (or call it self-confidence if that suits better) is necessary to be good at something.

For myself, yeah I have an ego. That doesn't mean I look down at others but I'm pretty good at my job and feedback tends to support my impression.

While I do value your input Chef Garry...Ego and confidence are two totally different things. It is entirely possible to be great at something without ego.

Caustic...thanks for your ver insightful comments. I agree wholeheartedly...

Some ego is/can be a good thing if you don't let it go to your head.

As for those with too much ego I think Extreme put it best Kid Ego lyrics

"The extent of the ego's inability to recognize itself and see what it is doing is staggering and unbelievable. [...] To become free of the ego is not really a big job but a very small one. All you need to do is be aware of your thoughts and emotions - as they happen. This is not really a 'doing' but an alert 'seeing'. In that sense, it is true that there is nothing you can do to become free of the ego. When that shift happens, which is the shift from thinking to awareness, an intelligence far greater than the ego's cleverness begins to operate in your life. Emotions and even thoughts become depersonalized through awareness. Their impersonal nature is recognized. There is no longer a self in them. They are just human emotions, human thoughts. Your entire personal history, which is ultimately no more than a story, a bundle of thoughts and emotions, becomes of secondary importance and no longer occupies the forefront of your consciousness. It no longer forms the basis for your sense of identity. You are the light of Presence, the awareness that is prior to and deeper than any thoughts and emotions."

....from Eckhart Tolle's, 'A New Earth'

I'm ugly as hell so I must have a ton of ego. Just wish it would give me a kick in ase lately to get things done. Seems there is never enough time for much to be finished now days. Maybe it is me just getting old too! But ego is always something that we never know how to use - it use's us and by that we are abused by it. So I'm gona say ya I got a lot of it for one reason. It has always got in my way and it would be nice to get rid of too! Like something you wish you had and did not know what it really was and then you get too damn much of it.
Everything in moderation and maybe it will work. But that is in the hands of the person who see's he has that control. Me and moderation never got along either. I abused that one way back as a kid and never got over it! Ego - go for it ; moderation - forgot to save some!!!

SGT :NOTSURE: 

It is your responsibility as a human being to grasp hold of this and overcome it, otherwise you will always be controlled and further than that it will destroy any healthy relationship you might have. Not to mention it will stand between you and your enlightenment...

ego? what ego? mine ran away years ago and I cant find it , Nah not really I just try not to let that old thing destroy my relationships with the people around me.

I think ego is something that as we grow older we realize has NO part in our lives.
I am not sure? Is being prideful the same as having a big ego..??

But I can tell you that having children around will always set you straight. They level the playing field real fast. They can see though all the stuff we put up front to guard us or hide us. Sometimes I think that is more what we use the ego for. But believe me having 5 children and 15 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, you can't have a ego lurking inside or be all full of yourself. They will find it and call you on it.

We all need to learn to be humble. That is another way to check the ego. Just get on your knees..
  Wash the floors....  That will do it.

Rose

RoseNell, there is nothing wrong with being proud of, or with, yourself. I'm proud of a lot of the things I've done in my life. Nothing wrong with that at all. But like anything else in life, too much pride is never a good thing. Having too much pride is on the same field as having an ego trip.....

It's not ego that pushes us to excel, to succeed, to keep trying. That's tenacity, strength. That's even fortitude and, for many of us (me included), principle. I guess, again, many think confidence and ego are the same thing, still. They're simply not.

It's not an ego that drives a fireman into a building to save a life. It's, at least in part, bravery.

It's not an ego that evokes introspection for the purpose of self-improvement. It's the desire to be more, try more.

It's not an ego that helps us communicate. It's our empathy. It's our tenderness, our desire to understand more; be more.

It's not an ego that helps us recover from a betrayal. It's knowing life goes on. It's radical acceptance and, above all, it's forgiveness.

It's not an ego that wills the sick back to health. It's their desire to live. It's their love, passion and fire for life.

The only time I can see ego being a so-called "benefit" (and by "benefit" I mean only monetarily)are in the case of the social-climbers, the corporate kids whose sole purpose is to use, abuse, lie, cheat and smooch sufficient fanny whereby they achieve their pseudo-noble goal/s. But, social climbers are another story. Blah.

caustic, you put that very well. And you spoke truthfully.....especially in saying:

You might want to pop your nose into a dictionary for a wee check....;) [particularly that which pertains to psychoanalysis].

Don't confuse 'ego' with 'egocentric' or 'egotism' ...;)

 

Ego is the 'hall monitor' between what we want so bad, other concerns are immaterial, and what we 'know' is the right thing to do ... make note that the 'know' in what we know is right is largely a product of upbringing moderated by a dose of our own personal psyche.

Problems can, and sometimes do, occur when ego gets a bit too friendly with 'inner desire'

This has turned out to be great thread...thanks everyone for your input.

i luv the way caustic speaks......he has a real "Mr Hyde" manner with his words.....(i really gotta get over my infatuation with Mr Hyde).........  

Kitty...I still haven't caught up with the show....but will...;)