The birth of the ego and the fall from wholeness
In the womb, the unborn life experiences "paradisiacal" conditions, because it has everything it needs: Warmth, security, closeness, constant nourishment ...
At birth, however, it is forcibly thrust out into a harsh world. Pressed through a dark, narrow channel, it loses its breath. This is followed by an unstoppable fall into an empty room and a hard landing on a cold cot. It may even be lifted upside down and given a slap on the buttocks until the first panic-stricken breath.
Protective and adaptive layers
After that, it continues: this is how the newborn child experiences existential feelings of fear and lack for the first time: hunger, abandonment and the fear of falling short.
The little I grows up and learns: not all circumstances are favourable. The more negative experiences it has, the stronger its feeling becomes: "I am all alone here and nobody helps me ...". Soon protective strategies emerge such as "don't show fear!" and in general: "hide everything that is problematic, fight for yourself ...".
Fear as the root of egoism
Just when the person still feels small and afraid inside, it wants to appear as big, strong and dangerous as possible. It is also not afraid to take what it can from others. After all, it has to look after itself if and because it lacks the confidence that it will be given what it needs.