Have you ever been around someone who unwillingly made you feel small, tired, and unimportant in the worst way possible?
People who are ruled by their ego are often very tiring and can be trying to hide their insecurities by making you feel insecure.
The worst part of it all is that these can be people who once were so nice and gentle, yet their personality shifted almost overnight.
Here are the ten most obvious signs someone is ruled by their ego.
1. They Always Need to Be Right
When the ego is in power, humility goes away. Someone whose ego is out of control argues all the time, even about little things. They want to be right and feel scared when they find out they’re wrong.
They don’t listen to comprehend; they listen to win. This constant urge to “be right” takes away peace and hurts relationships. People who are spiritually rooted recognize that truth doesn’t need to be protected; it just exists.
The ego, on the other hand, loves to be in charge. When someone won’t listen to another point of view, it means that pride has taken over their inner voice.
2. They Compare Themselves to Everyone
The ego loves to compare things. It thrives on evaluating, ranking, and demonstrating value. If someone always compares oneself to others in terms of looks, success, or position, it’s a symptom that they are spiritually unbalanced.
The ego tells you that being “better” means being worth something. But the soul knows that divine timing is not a competition. This way of thinking might make you tired, angry, and jealous.
Being better than others doesn’t give you real confidence; knowing your own unique worth and presenting it with grace does.
3. They Can’t Admit When They’re Wrong
The spiritually aligned individual can simply say they’re sorry since they know it doesn’t make them less valuable. But when the ego is in charge, admitting mistakes feels like a loss of dignity.
People like this distort words, shift blame, or deny doing anything wrong at all. They are afraid that admitting they are not perfect will show that they are weak. Humility is actually power; it brings people together and fosters trust.
If someone can’t acknowledge “I was wrong,” it implies they care more about how they look than the truth. Their ego protects them like armor, but that armor prevents them from feeling close to others.
4. They Seek Constant Praise
When someone needs other people to tell them they’re good enough, their ego is in charge. These people fish for compliments or make their accomplishments sound more impressive than they are to get attention.
How others see them affects their pleasure. This is spiritually risky because it keeps the soul attached to shallow approval instead of peace of mind. Real confidence doesn’t need people to clap for it; it simply exists.
When you get addicted to praise, it stops being genuine. When people always talk about their success stories or how “busy” and “important” they are, you’d better see it as a red flag.
5. They Struggle to Empathize
People can’t see how others feel because of their egos. When someone doesn’t demonstrate empathy or doesn’t care about other people’s sorrow, it’s because they are just thinking about themselves.
They might cut you off, downplay your feelings, or bring the important conversation back to themselves. This is not their way to be mean; a lot of the time, it’s just insecurity that they don’t realize they have.
The ego is afraid of being vulnerable; thus, it doesn’t want to connect with others on a deep level. People who are spiritually awake, on the other hand, perceive compassion as a sign of power.
When you stop caring about other people, your relationships lose depth, and conversations become empty. That’s when you can tell that the ego is hiding the soul.
6. They Are Obsessed With Image
People whose egos are in charge put a lot of effort into how others see them. They want everything, from their appearance to their lifestyle to their spirituality, to be perfect. They could talk about “high vibrations” while secretly condemning other people.
The ego’s need to control how others see them is what makes people obsessed with their looks. But no amount of outside perfection can make up for a lack of inner peace.
If someone cares more about how their life looks than how it feels, it’s a solid sign that their spirit has taken the back seat. Light that is real doesn’t need filters to shine.
7. They Take Everything Personally
When the ego is in charge, every neutral comment feels like a blow. People like this can’t tell the difference between feedback and an attack. They get too worked up, keep grudges, or think that harmless comments are really insults.
Their pride makes them sensitive. People who are spiritually grounded know that what other people say is just their own point of view, not the whole truth. If someone often feels “targeted” or “disrespected,” it’s usually because their ego wants attention.
The moment you stop seeing everything as a personal obstacle and start seeing it as knowledge for self-awareness, growth begins.
8. They Manipulate to Stay in Control
The ego’s way of staying alive is through control. Fear that is disguised as power is what usually makes someone try to guilt, pressure, or emotionally manipulate others. They could use kindness as a weapon or silence as a punishment.
They are scared of losing power or love deep down. The pure soul doesn’t control; it trusts. When manipulation shows up, connection becomes a transaction. This kind of action makes things worse, not better.
People who are spiritually free let relationships grow and change instead of trying to make things happen on their own terms. The more someone attempts to dominate other people, the less power they really have over themselves.
9. They Judge Everyone
The ego’s biggest expression is in judgment. When someone repeatedly criticizes others, their looks, choices, or lifestyles, it demonstrates underlying insecurity.
The ego grows when there is division. The spirit, on the other hand, knows that everyone’s path is holy. When you hear someone gossiping or talking down to others, they’re truly showing how unhappy they are within.
The more criticism they cast outward, the less respect they hold inward. Being kind is always better than being critical.
10. They Fear Stillness and Silence
The ego is scared of silence because it reveals their true nature. People who are stuck in ego-driven energy are always looking for distraction, like scrolling, talking, or staying busy, to keep from discovering their inner truth.
They are afraid of being silent because it shows how empty they are. But real spiritual strength comes from thinking about things in silence. If someone does everything they can to avoid peace, their ego is protecting a wound that hasn’t healed.
Being still doesn’t make the spirit weaker, and when silence makes you feel bad, it’s an indication that your spirit wants to be heard again.
Born and raised in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ever since I was a little girl, my imagination knew no bounds. I remember vividly how I’d scribble down short stories, each page bursting with adventures and characters conjured up from the whimsy of my mind. These stories weren’t just for me; they were my way of connecting with my friends, offering them a slice of my fantasy world during our playtimes. The joy and excitement on their faces as we dived into my fictional realms motivated me to keep writing. This early passion for storytelling naturally evolved into my pursuit of writing, turning a childhood hobby into a fulfilling career.