Some scholars compared one’s ego to a wild horse.
Leaving it to its own devices, will distract you from reaching your destination.
Killing the horse will just ruin your chances of reaching your destination in time.
If this figure of speech is sound, then the best way forward is to tame it.
But, how would you tame the most rebellious thing in creation? Your ego?

Some successful scholars of the old said: “You oppose it from having that which is unlawful, that which is disliked and even from some of that which is lawful.”
For example, you do not eat pork because it is unlawful.
Moreover, you do not eat a lot of halal meat because it is disliked.
Furthermore, each time you hear your ego calling to eat halal meat, you abstain.

However, other successful scholars had a different approach.
Their focal point is not fighting their ego.
Their aim is only Allah.
That which He commanded to do in the Quran, they do for His sake.
And that which He forbade, they do not do for His sake only.

Try and see which one works for you. For it is written:

“Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”
Quran 13:28