From "The Seeker's Guide"

1—choice based
2—unavoidable
3—reactive, how we react to 1 & 2
4—Time stress—how does our perception of time and the reality of time frequently differ
Greet our reactions as messengers. Messages from reality.

It’s better to view the ego as a vehicle given to us to navigate life’s journey, rather than something to be annihilated on the one hand or exalted on the other. The best way to deal with ego is to get to know it well enough to understand when it is serving you and when it is leading you astray.