The ego is indispensable for psychological health, social adaptation, and self-coherence. It is the wise mediator that balances instinctual desires, moral demands, and reality. Rather than seeking to obliterate the ego, psychological growth involves strengthening and integrating it.
The myth of ego death, popularized without understanding, risks encouraging harmful psychological states akin to narcissism or psychopathy. Recognizing the ego’s true nature helps us appreciate the complexity of the mind and the foundations of mental health. “Ego Death”: Ignorant, Bad Idea