Short note: A person can be strong without inflating the self. The name of this is not ego, but self-respect.
Ego and self-respect are often confused. Yet there is a very basic difference between them. Ego is the need to place oneself above others. Self-respect is the ability to live without devaluing one’s own essence. One works through comparison; the other works through balance.
A person with self-respect does not try to crush everyone in order to prove themselves. They can feel their own value without constantly needing approval from outside. That is why self-respect is quiet. It does not shout, show off, or inflate itself. But when needed, it sets boundaries; when needed, it steps back; when needed, it stands upright.
Ego does not produce respect; it produces fear. Self-respect first establishes an order inside the person. Someone who respects their own essence can more easily accept the existence of another. They do not feel threatened. A person who knows their own value is more able to respect others. This opens the door to peace.
Perhaps even the journey of discovering the Creator begins here. Someone who despises, belittles, or pollutes their own essence reads existence in a fragmented way. When a person develops the right respect toward the self, the inner world gathers itself and relationships with others become clearer.
So the real need is not ego. The real need is to remain upright without damaging the essence. And this is one of the cleanest forms of strength a person can give to themselves.
