Letting Go of the Ego: Reclaiming Our Authentic Self
From early childhood, we begin shaping our identity in response to our environment. Unconsciously, we absorb the projections and expectations of others: family, extended relatives, caregivers, teachers, classmates. Without realizing it, we adjust who we are to fit the image we believe they hold of us. Often, it’s not what they explicitly say; it’s what we imagine they might think. This imagined dialogue quietly shapes how we see ourselves and how we move through the world. This is where the ego begins to take root. Not the healthy sense of self that supports our functioning, but the ego as a defense mechanism, the part of us that needs to be right, that needs to be better than others to feel worthy . It’s a survival strategy born from the shadow theatre of human relationships, often invisible yet remarkably powerful. As we grow, this internalized need for validation can silently direct our choices, our relationships, even our definition of success. We become conditioned to prove ou...