Did Jesus Have an Ego?

Jesus was fully human, so he must have had an ego. But does that mean having an ego is a good thing?

The word ego often gets a bad reputation. We tend to associate it with being egotistical, self-centred or overly focused on ourselves. But ego itself is simply our sense of identity, our understanding of who we are and how we see ourselves.

In that sense, having a strong ego and healthy self-esteem can be important. It helps us navigate life, develop confidence and understand our place in the world.

But our ego is also shaped by our upbringing, experiences and what I sometimes call our “programming”. Over time, who we think we are can become influenced by who we believe we need to be: to fit into certain roles, meet expectations or belong in the lives of others.

One of the best metaphors I’ve heard compares the ego to a violin that we play in the symphony of life.

If you were playing a violin in a symphony, you would keep it in tune. You would look after it, polish it and make sure it was in good condition. You might become so immersed in playing that you feel completely at one with the instrument.

But you are not the violin.

You are the person playing it. You are the creator of the music.

If I’m Not My Ego, Who Am I?

In spiritual thinking, the ego is sometimes described as the “false self”, in contrast with our “true self”. In other words, the identity we have built around ourselves is a part of us, but it may not be the entirety of who we are.

For me, there is something incredibly freeing about this idea.

It means I don’t have to be a slave to my thinking.

My thoughts are not who I am.

Underneath my thoughts, underneath who I think I am and underneath who I think I need to be, I believe there is something greater, wiser and more compassionate.

I’ve called this D.U.E.L. — the Divine Universal Energy of Life.

For me, it is the place, or the energy within us, from which pure love, wisdom and compassion can emerge, uncontaminated by our personal thinking.

That isn’t to say we cannot be loving, compassionate or wise while living through our ego. Of course we can. But I believe there is a deeper love, wisdom and compassion available to us when we look beyond the identity we have created for ourselves. In my own understanding, that comes not from the ego, but from the soul.

Looking Beyond Our Thinking

Knowing that I have access to this deeper part of myself, and believing that I am always connected to this Divine Universal Energy of Life, has been a major source of support for me through the worries, pressures and challenges of life.

I find it valuable in my working life too.

When I’m faced with a business problem or struggling to find an answer, sometimes the best thing I can do is stop trying to think my way through it. By letting go of the constant noise in my head, I can create space for a new idea or creative solution to emerge.

There is something reassuring about knowing that this place is always there and always accessible.

Perhaps the real challenge, then, isn’t getting rid of our ego.

Maybe it is learning to recognise it for what it is: an important part of how we navigate the world, but not necessarily the deepest expression of who we are.

We can look after the instrument. We can keep it polished and in tune.

But every now and again, it’s worth remembering:

We are not the instrument. We are the ones creating the music.

Something to think about.