Ergonomic Ego

A chance remark by a friend popped open a can of thoughts.

Ego is inevitable, and ego is healthy in an idealistic world - which we are far from living in. But then the lines are so fine, almost invisible we never realize when we over step them time and time again.
There are some clear demarcations, some people I wouldn't hold back my ego with, for a number of reasons – they have enough of their own, the nature of association requires it, maybe even demand it, etc etc. This group is not the one I am rather worried about . . .

The ones that need careful trudging are the ones closer to the heart. Ouch aren't they always the tricky ones! When do I let ego rear its head, if at all. Should I let it lead me on for awhile, how far, with who, and not with whom, such that it does not kill me.
There arent any pre-defined parametes I can take in account, no templates, no precedents help. Every time is a new churning, and hell new learning.

And they say day-to-day life is monotonous. More that enough tugs of war to handle on a boring monday too . . . .