Humanity has the tendency to be proud. We tend to attribute our personality to our material possessions. Most of the time this is caused by our medium-to-low self-esteem. That is where ego comes in.

Ego refers to an attitude that makes an individual feel bigger or more influential than they actually are. While many people can comfortably control their ego, a few have the habit of letting it take over their lives. Ego can be a good thing if it's well taken care of. But if we allow it to exceed certain limits, it can turn out to be annoyance to the individual (and the people around them) in more ways than they can imagine.

Everyone feels some form of compulsion from a unique part of the inner-being to act in a particular way. At times, it might be quite cumbersome to give a word to such a feeling. Ego, by definition, is our inner personality that defines who we are, and what separates us from the outside world. However, the ego is one part of human nature that is capable of taking controlling of our deeds, whether it be for beneficial or detrimental reasons. I, myself, have been faced with situations in which the ego takes control.

We all have egos. What is different are the level of egos we have. There are individuals who have big, noisy egos while others have quiet egos. In life, we are always told that in order to be a champion, you need to have a big ego. Most people will go to the extent of naming the world-renowned people such as politicians, football superstars, musicians and other celebrities as all having a big ego. They argue that it is the ego that makes them bold and determined to take on any challenge. However, this is not always the case. Time and time again, the importance of showing humility is stressed upon us.

Over the years, history has proven to us that while ego can be a good thing, letting the ego take control of you is the worst that could happen to a man. Many have ended up being a shadow of themselves for the simple reason that they let ego take control of their decisions. One no longer thinks critically of the consequences of his or her actions. When ego takes over you no longer care about others. It is always about you.

The best and most accurate way to gauge an individual's ego is by a person's reaction to another's success. Egotistic people will always feel jealous when others succeed or win. Others will even go ahead to set unrealistic goals that are unattainable in the first place. Perhaps the worst thing that can happen when you let ego control you is the very nature of ego: it will never settle for the facts on the ground but would rather survive on lies.

It is easier for men to ignore the voice of reason, and instead follow convictions that are baseless. It is easier to avoid thinking in-depth about a situation, analyzing alternatives and making rational decisions after considerations are made. It is difficult for men to consult others and accommodate opposing viewpoints. When all these forces are at work, humans end up trusting their ego to drive their decisions. However, they fail to realize that the ego can be erratic. The ego can be emotional and dogmatic. It can act as a suppressor to rational thinking and sobriety. As such, men should not let their ego control who they are.

Ego is the feeling that makes us feel superior to others, but it also drives us to seek approval. The ego is important and can be helpful in order to protect self-image and create our own self-concepts. When one's ego is in control, a person experiences fear, embarrassment and anxiety. To be on the safe side, he or she needs to be aware of the time in which the ego takes control. For one to remain in control, he or she needs to continuously check how the ego might be affecting them. One should ask him/herself how they feel, and try to ask themselves if other people feel the same way.

Many times we tend to feel that we or the choices we make are better than anyone else's. We tend to feel more important or special than others, which would prompt others to believe we have a large ego. Ego is, therefore, what we tend to consider as part of ourselves. This, if not well-controlled, may lead to consequences or being mistaken in the society. The way we portray ourselves is of great importance. We can assume ego defines our qualities and who we are, and we should never let our ego control us.