Ego is a very powerful thing, is what makes us feel our worth, it gives us a sense of whom we perceive ourselves to be, and it gives us a sense of self-importance.
Is a set of thoughts and feelings that form a person’s self-image, including the way we view ourselves and the way we want others to view us. As long as is balanced, it can be a very positive trait.
According to Psychologists, the ego is considered to be the conscious self, which has three main functions: to experience reality; organise activities and deal with threats. The ego can be seen as the “I” that identifies with its body and mind as well as with its thoughts, memories, desires, impulses, communication, skills and emotions.
It is often said that our ego needs to be built up for us to be successful. If you grow up getting a “bravo” or praise and a pat on the back from your family, it can make you a very confident person even when you’re shy.
However, our egos will suffer if we lack self-esteem or self-confidence. This can be related to our upbringing or immediate environment. If you grow up in a toxic environment and are constantly put down by those closest to you especially those who were supposed to love you, all you’ll develop is self-doubt and a feeling of unworthiness, AKA – Low self-esteem.
Take Social Media, for example, some people often find themselves living for the approval of others. They are constantly looking for validation and acceptance in the form of likes, retweets, and compliments from others, and this can lead to a never-ending cycle of self-promotion to feel important.
However, this behaviour isn’t limited to social media or even the internet. It starts with how we present ourselves in person as well.
We are all guilty of tending to put our best foot forward when we’re out in public, whether it’s at a job interview or just going out with friends. We dress nicer than usual, put on makeup and wear our nicest clothes to give off a good first impression. And for those lacking self-confidence, this can become an ego defence mechanism that people use to get more attention from others because they assume they will lack it otherwise.
The term “ego defence mechanism” refers to a coping strategy people use to manage their anxiety by consciously or unconsciously putting on a facade that they believe will make them seem more desirable, competent, or attractive. This behaviour can become very addictive and hard to let go of.
For example, someone who doesn’t know how to dance at a party might wear their best clothes and lipstick in the hopes of being more attractive to others. The person dressing up might not even realise that they’re doing it, but it’s a way to cope with the anxiety of not knowing how to dance. By putting an attractive façade on it they change the focus of their fear.
Some other common examples of ego defence are pretence, rationalisation, denial, projection, and reaction formation. The ego defence mechanism most often associated with narcissism is a process called grandiosity as others put it. I call it God Damn BS.
Grandiosity occurs when someone feels so good about themselves that they begin to see themselves as superior to others. They begin to take oversized credit for everything they do and make every event in their life a heroic success story. They are in love with themselves and love talking about themselves and their amazing achievements wherever they go or whenever they have a chance. So if you want to save yourself from a long S “Therapist” time, avoid them like a plague.
Grandiosity is often seen in people with narcissistic personality disorder, but it can also be seen in people who are not narcissistic at all. People with narcissism typically see themselves as superior to others, but someone with low self-esteem might perceive themselves as superior to others as a result of their grandiosity. For example, a narcissist is those who normally look down on others they deem inferior to them and will condescendingly treat them. Low self-esteem that embodies the “Grandiosity” persona will just tend to brag about their achievements non-stop. Listening to their vocal diarrhoea can be frogging exhausting but you’re better off being around them than dealing with a hard S narcissist.
These are the difference between Low Self-Esteem, High Self-Esteem, High Ego and Low Ego.
Low self-esteem and high ego are both personality traits that can mostly affect a person’s behaviour. But it is important to note that they are not the same thing, but extreme opposites. Low self-esteem is when a person has a negative view of themselves, while high ego is when someone has an inflated sense of their worth.
There are many ways these traits can affect these people, not only in their personal lives but also in their workplace.
Low self-esteem could lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, which could then lead them to avoid trying new things and taking risks for fear of failure or rejection. They can procrastinate and/or create delays in everything in their lives.
People with low self-esteem tend to avoid certain types of interactions or situations due to fear of embarrassment and rejection.
High ego could cause people to be overconfident in their abilities or skills, which could then lead them to take risks they are not mentally prepared for, in hopes of success. These are the type that can literally think they can tap their shoes and fly.
People high in self-esteem typically tend to be more confident and socially outgoing. They may also feel more motivated and enjoy a better work-life balance. These are the ones we call the “Go-Getter”, their assertive demeanour normally leads them to successful results.
High self-esteem people are more likely to be successful in their relationships, while low self-esteem people tend to struggle with managing personal relationships.
There are also many ways these two traits affect the workplace. High Ego: When someone has a high ego, this will typically cause them to feel confident and have an inflated sense of their self-worth. This can be seen in many ways, such as when someone has an inflated sense of their capabilities or skills. They are likely to see themselves as being better than others and not needing any help.
Low Ego: When someone has a low ego, they will typically have a more realistic view of who they are and what they can do, but this also often means they tend to be not so confident in themselves. This can come across has to have issues with self-esteem or confidence because they might see themselves as not being good enough.
The way you perceive yourself can make a great impact on the way people perceive you. You might think you’re not capable of doing something but others may see the potential you fail to acknowledge within you. You might think you’re the best thing since the sliced bread. And guess what? Others will just laugh because you ain’t all that. Take it as it resonates.
By the one and only,
Graciete
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