We often use the terms "self-respect" and "ego" interchangeably, but confusing them is a mistake. While both relate to our sense of self, they stem from fundamentally different places. Self-respect is a quiet foundation of inner worth, ego is a loud demand for external validation.
Understanding this distinction is the key to building genuine confidence, healthier relationships, and a life driven by authenticity rather than insecurity. This post explores how to differentiate self-respect from ego and why mastering the difference is essential for true well-being. Skip to The Differences for the main content.
โถ๐๐ฑ๐บ๐ถ๐ป: ๐๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ๐ง๐ถ๐ญ, ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ด (๐ง๐ข๐ฎ๐ช๐ญ๐บ/๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ด). ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ด ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฅ๐ช๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ต๐ข๐ด๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ, ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ฏ๐จย & ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ด๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ด. "๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐"
The following was written in response to a query we received on our Samadhanย WhatsApp group in June 2025. So please read the following in the same context.
โ Self-respect vs Ego โ
(a brief look)
Self Respect is for WHO YOU ARE as an 'eternal spirit/soul' >>for the BEING that you are.
โญevery soul is pure consciousness with the qualities of "peace" "love" "purity" "bliss" and "knowledge"
Therefore, self respect is to respect our eternal existence and our inner values & character... and 'living our truth' freely.
Ego is the illusion of "false identity" >>what we assume to be when we come to this world... We assume to be a doctor, a teacher, a rich person, or anything that is associated with our "physical body" (earthly existence)
The emotion of 'superiority' or 'false pride' that emerges from this body-consciousness is called EGO.
Also, in a larger sense, ego is the illusion of 'seaparation' from god and from "unity" amongst us. When we come here in this world, be feel and act as if we are 'separate' beings, separate from god (the source)... this is the EGO that we all need to burn, with the knowledge of self-realisation
โ๏ธThis will ultimately bring us to soul-awakening.
And in this sense, EGO is indeed important, as it keeps us connected to this physical world (and the body). This is a PART of the purpose, but not the purpose itself. Because 'separation' is needed as an experience, in order to experience "unity" (the highest truth). It is only when we come here and forget our truth, that WE ARE ALL ONE being, and we forget our identity, that there is an 'opportunity' to remember the forgotten truth.
To understand this further, please read our following posts:
A great secret of Life & Drama
The Differences
The following is a point-wise description of 'self-respect' and 'ego' in given situations:
Foundation
Self-Respect: Based on inner dignity and self-worth.
Ego: Based on comparison, pride, and superiority.
Response to Criticism
Self-Respect: Accepts feedback without feeling attacked.
Ego: Reacts defensively or feels insulted.
Interaction with Others
Self-Respect: Treats others with equal respect.
Ego: Wants to feel better or more important than others.
Decision Making
Self-Respect: Guided by values and fairness.
Ego: Driven by the need to win or be right.
Growth Attitude
Self-Respect: Open to learning and change.
Ego: Resists change to protect self-image.
In essence, self-respect uplifts, while ego separates.
CONCLUSION
'Self-respect' is a healthy sense of one's own worth, while 'ego' is a sense of ๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข. ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ involves valuing oneself and one's moral & spiritual character....whereas ๐๐ ๐จ often manifests as a belief that one is better than others (self-pride).
Video: Discover the Soul (Hindi)
Video: Discover the Soul (English)
โโโโโโโโโโโโ
๐ต๐ ๐ต๐๐๐๐๐๐น..โจ
Oแ แOแชแชY SแดแแฏIแแด,
๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (SBSI)
Is it clear?
Yes, clear wisdom
Not clear