Ego Good? Ego Bad?

Here is a description of the evolution of our ego, followed by Sigmund’s Freud’s disclosure of its purpose.

• From an evolutionary perspective, ego is surmised to have evolved from self-awareness. Self-awareness is particularly advantageous for social animals like us humans. It gives us an idea about our strengths, weaknesses, our role and position in society and also to understand one another’s behavior.
• When Freud developed psychoanalytic theory, he used the German word es (ego, in English) to describe the part of the self responsible for decision making.

Consequently, I understand our ego is an inherited filter that protects us from outside hazards and perilous internal decisions. Without our egos, humans could never have survived the slings and arrows of time. Our ego is to be considered a benevolent human psychological component. As Dr. Freud explained, it is a thought filter—a decision-making apparatus.

This may seem an unusually glowing report for the ego, which is often given an extremely bad rap around the AA tables. But we can experience a benevolent, healthy ego that keeps us happy, joyous, and free. (B.B. p. 133) However, our egos sometimes may go out of whack and become disastrous to us and to our fellows.

The secular-driven ego filter lives in deep fear and elevates ordinary situations out of proportion. We begin to consider ourselves big shots (egomaniacs), unable to see another’s point of view, often insulting, uncaring of others, self-centered to the max, and more. We can easily see how this dangerous disorder can lead alcoholics to that first drink.

However, as the result of living the Twelve Steps, a God-inspired ego filter takes precedence over the fear and destructive behavior of the secular-driven ego. Page 85 of the Big Book tells us: We feel as though we had been placed in a position of neutrality—safe and protected. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid. That is our experience. That is how we react so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.”

Ego good? Ego bad? I have a choice—Thank you God!

By Bob S.