No ego...
Saturday, March 8, 2008 by Skinhit | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Just something I've been thinking about...Do you live with or without ego? Now granted,there's a tad of ego is in everyone...But my question is, do you let it motivate you, do you let it speak for you? I've noticed so much lately, that operating without ego allows you to meet people where they are, allows you to empower them, allows you to motivate, and better than that, allows you to "just be". I challenge you to think about it...What do you have to lose?
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RoseNell
Reply #42 Sunday, March 9, 2008 2:35 PM
Reply #42 Sunday, March 9, 2008 2:35 PM
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
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
killajosh
Reply #43 Sunday, March 9, 2008 3:54 PM
Reply #43 Sunday, March 9, 2008 3:54 PM
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.....
Matchbook
Reply #44 Sunday, March 9, 2008 4:13 PM
Reply #44 Sunday, March 9, 2008 4:13 PM
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.
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.
killajosh
Reply #45 Sunday, March 9, 2008 4:22 PM
Reply #45 Sunday, March 9, 2008 4:22 PM
caustic, you put that very well. And you spoke truthfully.....especially in saying:
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.
Jafo
Reply #46 Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:44 PM
Reply #46 Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:44 PM
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.
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' ...
eieio
Reply #47 Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:52 PM
Reply #47 Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:52 PM
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'
Problems can, and sometimes do, occur when ego gets a bit too friendly with 'inner desire'
Skinhit
Reply #48 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:08 PM
Reply #48 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:08 PM
This has turned out to be great thread...thanks everyone for your input.
Vampothika
Reply #49 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:38 PM
Reply #49 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:38 PM
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).........
Jafo
Reply #50 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:55 PM
Reply #50 Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:55 PM
i really gotta get over my infatuation with Mr Hyde)
Kitty...I still haven't caught up with the show....but will...
DigitalCHET
Reply #51 Sunday, March 9, 2008 9:00 PM
Reply #51 Sunday, March 9, 2008 9:00 PM
Ego in and of itself isn't the problem. As Jafo tried to point out, ego is a requierement of sentience. It is self-awareness.
It is, as the dictionary puts it: "the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought." Thus necessary for sentience.
An ego only becomes a negative thing when it graduates to egotism, which simply put is selfishness. Where the ego (self) becomes more important than the others around it.
A true test of strength of character is in knowing when and how to exercise one's ego to the benefit of others, even if it's to the detriment of the self.
Just some thoughts...
It is indeed the ego, fuelled by bravery and concern for another that drives the fireman. His thoughts may be something akin to "People are in danger! I must do something for those people because I have the experience and ability to do so." If it wasn't for his awareness of what he knows and is capable of... -had he no ego, he would not act accordingly.
The egotist fireman would take no action, lest his own life be put in danger.
One must be aware of what one knows before one can begin to be more. The ego says, "This is where I am, and there is where I want to be." It takes stock of the sum of it's knowledge and experience and says "I think I can, I know I can." or, "I cannot."
If it wasn't for ego, one could not adequately communicate, or understand. It's the sum of the experiences of the ego that allows for understanding; and the point of reference from which one begins the journey to growth.
The egotist communicates only when it suits his purposes and will do so forcibly and to the detriment of others when he does so. He will not submit himself to learning unless he sees benefit to himself, and then will only do so in his own terms.
In my own experience and learning I've never come across a better example of a properly handled ego than that of Jesus Christ. When you disregard the "religion" ascribed to him and focus only on the pattern and teachings of his life, seeking in earnest, I'm sure one cannot but agree.
Quite a bit to chew on really.
I think my brain is fried. 
It is, as the dictionary puts it: "the “I” or self of any person; a person as thinking, feeling, and willing, and distinguishing itself from the selves of others and from objects of its thought." Thus necessary for sentience.
An ego only becomes a negative thing when it graduates to egotism, which simply put is selfishness. Where the ego (self) becomes more important than the others around it.
A true test of strength of character is in knowing when and how to exercise one's ego to the benefit of others, even if it's to the detriment of the self.
Just some thoughts...
It's not an ego that drives a fireman into a building to save a life. It's, at least in part, bravery.
It is indeed the ego, fuelled by bravery and concern for another that drives the fireman. His thoughts may be something akin to "People are in danger! I must do something for those people because I have the experience and ability to do so." If it wasn't for his awareness of what he knows and is capable of... -had he no ego, he would not act accordingly.
The egotist fireman would take no action, lest his own life be put in danger.
It's not an ego that evokes introspection for the purpose of self-improvement. It's the desire to be more, try more.
One must be aware of what one knows before one can begin to be more. The ego says, "This is where I am, and there is where I want to be." It takes stock of the sum of it's knowledge and experience and says "I think I can, I know I can." or, "I cannot."
It's not an ego that helps us communicate. It's our empathy. It's our tenderness, our desire to understand more; be more.
If it wasn't for ego, one could not adequately communicate, or understand. It's the sum of the experiences of the ego that allows for understanding; and the point of reference from which one begins the journey to growth.
The egotist communicates only when it suits his purposes and will do so forcibly and to the detriment of others when he does so. He will not submit himself to learning unless he sees benefit to himself, and then will only do so in his own terms.
In my own experience and learning I've never come across a better example of a properly handled ego than that of Jesus Christ. When you disregard the "religion" ascribed to him and focus only on the pattern and teachings of his life, seeking in earnest, I'm sure one cannot but agree.
Quite a bit to chew on really.
I think my brain is fried. 
starkers
Reply #52 Sunday, March 9, 2008 9:12 PM
Look out you lot... the cops just returned the dump truck with ego intact.... mwahahaha!
Reply #52 Sunday, March 9, 2008 9:12 PM
My ego was so big I had to tote it around in a dump truck... then somebody hot-wired it and drove away
Look out you lot... the cops just returned the dump truck with ego intact.... mwahahaha!
PoSmedley
Reply #53 Monday, March 10, 2008 7:12 PM
Reply #53 Monday, March 10, 2008 7:12 PM
I had to think on this one. And it hurt. lol.
How can you spend hours on a skin, sometimes countless, or even a wall or icon...then post it here and not have ego? There must be some level of ego, because you are saying "Hey! Look at what I made!"
We are almost like children looking for approval, hoping this one will go on the refrigerator door. And even if approval is your motivation, lack of it, or worse, disapproval, hurts. And it hurts your ego. It can anger you, discourage you, depress you, etc.
Now, how you chose to react is your choice. It's yours and you own it. No one is putting a gun to your head and saying 'You must cry now!'. Maybe you are fortunate enough to be able to chose to shrug it off. But that would require a certain level of self-confidence and awareness. A certain level of ego.
On the other hand...maybe Captain Kirk had Mommy issues.
How can you spend hours on a skin, sometimes countless, or even a wall or icon...then post it here and not have ego? There must be some level of ego, because you are saying "Hey! Look at what I made!"
We are almost like children looking for approval, hoping this one will go on the refrigerator door. And even if approval is your motivation, lack of it, or worse, disapproval, hurts. And it hurts your ego. It can anger you, discourage you, depress you, etc.
Now, how you chose to react is your choice. It's yours and you own it. No one is putting a gun to your head and saying 'You must cry now!'. Maybe you are fortunate enough to be able to chose to shrug it off. But that would require a certain level of self-confidence and awareness. A certain level of ego.
On the other hand...maybe Captain Kirk had Mommy issues.
Jafo
Reply #54 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:37 PM
Reply #54 Monday, March 10, 2008 8:37 PM
Yes, Po's got it about right. It's our awareness of ego that motivates such things as artwork creation and submission/display.
Where it gets all messy is with how comfortable we all may be with our egos.
Some bruise very, very easily [not a good trait for an artist with works on public scrutiny] Others may slip over to the 'dark side' and hold themselves as 'superior' to others, be it skill/accomplishment or position.
Fortunately most [sadly not all] accomplished/talented/successful skinners 'out there' don't strut around like peacocks. They tend to be nice, humble guys and gals....
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Reply #41 Sunday, March 9, 2008 1:55 PM