EGO

We all have an internal "babble machine." You know that voice in your head that always has something to say? The one that comments on everything, all the time—from what you’re wearing, to what you should have said in that meeting last Tuesday? Yes. That voice. That’s the ego. It doesn’t need a microphone; it broadcasts through the speakers in your head all by itself. It’s always on—morning, noon, and night—and it has an opinion on everything. Absolutely everything. And you are not alone.

It’s like a slightly irritable radio station you can’t quite turn off.

"Ego FM – 24/7 news about you, with a special focus on what’s wrong with you and everyone else."

The ego is the part of you that has learned who you are, what you should be, and what is safe. It’s the voice that says you should know better, that you’re not good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. The ego means well. It’s trying to protect you. But it does so with an overzealous method. Imagine a nervous security guard with caffeine withdrawals and a need for control. He wants the best for you, but he’s constantly shouting: "Watch out! Look sharp! What will the others think?!"

So why is the ego so hard to spot?

Because it sounds like you. It uses your voice. Your thoughts. Your logic. And before you know it, you’ve mistaken the ego’s commentary for the truth.

But it isn’t. You are not the babble machine. You are the one listening to it.

The ego loves being center stage. It wants to be right, to be liked, to be seen, and ideally, to have the last word. If you fail, it’s there instantly: "What did I tell you?" If you succeed? Then comes another variation: "Don’t get ahead of yourself now, this won’t last." The ego is never satisfied.

So, what do we need the ego for?

The ego has one job: to ensure your survival. Not your flourishing. Not your happiness. Just your safety. You don’t need to remove the ego. What you need is to recognize it. When you become aware of the ego’s voice, it loses its grip. You don’t have to push it away. Just observe.

And the next time it shouts, you can say: Thank you, Captain Ego. I see you. But right now, I’m listening to something else.

Extract from my book 📗Ai, Ego and the Soul📗