Why You Should Befriend Your Ego Instead of Killing It

Ego death isn’t the shortcut to enlightenment.

Marta Brzosko
Connection Hub

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All illustrations by the author.

Ego death became an attractive concept among the spiritually-oriented folks. It refers to temporarily transcending your sense of separate self and connecting to a broader, more inclusive consciousness.

This experience — sometimes also called ego loss or ego dissolution — can be scary, fascinating and alluring all at the same time. Besides, how many times have you heard that ego is your enemy, the biggest limitation you need to get rid of?

Exactly.

In the spiritual world, the ego is typically portrayed as something that stands in the way of your evolution. It limits your perception — especially if you overidentify with it. From this angle, ego death can seem like a liberating experience. It allows you to connect with your True Nature and realize that you’re one with the rest of life.

But does it mean you should actively try to get rid of the ego? Is this the best way to spiritual wisdom?

My journey has left me wondering.

I had moments when I experienced ego loss to a certain degree — and it felt wonderful. However, there were also times when my trying to “kill my ego” backfired. I ended up in a paradoxical situation where my…

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