Ego--Luke

 

“And I’ll never let my son have an ego. He’ll be nice to everyone, wherever we go.” (New Day by Kanye West & JAY-Z). 

Ever since I gained consciousness in the fact that I was alive and my existence in the grand scheme of affairs I started to tiptoe along the line of “right” and “wrong”. I would try and adopt good routines and stay away from bad habits and in the early stages of my life I thought egotism was bad. There’s a stigma towards having an ego and it is typically seen in a bad light, even when you look up ‘ego’ it even gives suggestions like “How do I kill my ego?”. Meanwhile, being humble is praised and admired even, on one occasion, I won a student trait of the month for being modest and bragging about it on this blog is the best part. Is it good to be modest? Is it bad to be cocky? Ego is the foundation of a better person. When you garner self-respect for yourself, you not only find yourself more prepossessing, but you find more appreciation in the life around you. So why is there a negative connotation with egos and their role?

There are multiple reasons as to why people think an ego is bad and the first reason is personal experience. There are always those people who are looking in the mirror too much or trying too hard to get attention, and while they are egotistical, they are more narcissistic if anything. Narcissism is when someone performs an action to get attention and admiration, but being egotistical doesn’t coincide with narcissism, since you can think you are great without ever wanting any attention at all. Take Kanye west for example, “‘Til I got flashed by the paparazzi. Damn, these n***** got me, I hate these n***** more than the Nazis” (Flashing Lights - Kanye West). Speaking of Kanye West, he is probably another reason as to why people don’t like the idea of having a big ego. Ever since the 2009 VMA awards, the incident where Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift during the award ceremony, people fortified the thought that celebrities have big egos and most do, like Madonna, Connor Mcgregor, and Alec Baldwin. Finally, the last major reason for the way ego is looked at in today’s world is the stories and themes that we read and grow up with. Take the “Tortoise and the Hare” for instance. The hare was too cocky and that got in the way of him winning. The Bible even has a story about humility with King Nebuchadnezzar. With all this evidence considered it seems like having a big ego is detrimental and hurts the relationships of those around you, but this isn’t all true. 

Your ego is there when no one and nothing else is there for you, we ultimately rely on ourselves to get through the day, but situations are not always that hopeless. It’s easy to say having an ego is bad, but like many aspects of life; if you have it under moderation, then it can help you grow. There is a study by the APA that states that having a strong ego builds your willpower which allows for the dedication towards major projects, self-improvement, etc. A common notation is that cocky people are annoying to interact with, but people who constantly bring up their flaws and want constant reassurance are no better than the individuals who try to take the spotlight for themselves. Accepting and embracing your ego is part of accepting who you are because if you suppress it completely you cut out parts of yourself that set you apart. There are many people who struggle with self-confidence and boosts to an ego can help their lives immensely. In my eyes anyone can be an “Odyessus”, meaning anyone can be the main character of their lives and triumph, except not everyone triumphs all the time. As cliche as that may sound, prioritizing yourself without being a hindrance to others is a huge value and should never be looked down upon. 

Works cited

 “APA PsycNet.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F2333-8113.1.S.19. 

Bellis, Rich. “Why Real Leaders Have Strong Egos (And That's A Good Thing).” Fast Company, Fast Company, 13 Jan. 2017, www.fastcompany.com/3067133/why-real-leaders-have-strong-egos-and-thats-a-good-thin g. 

Bondy, Halley. “Why Having a Big Ego Isn't Always a Bad Thing: Executive Coach Liz Bentley.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 24 Dec. 2019, www.nbcnews.com/know-your-value/feature/why-having-big-ego-isn-t-always-bad-thing-e xecutive-ncna1104591. 

Genius, 2007, genius.com/Kanye-west-flashing-lights-lyrics. Flashing Lights - Kanye West 

Genius, 2011, genius.com/312725. New Day - Kanye West & JAY-Z