The Samkhya system identifies Ahamkara — the I-maker — as the third evolute of Prakriti. Its function is the construction and maintenance of the sense of individual selfhood. Without Ahamkara, there would be no individual perspective. The problem is not the Ahamkara. The problem is the mistake of identifying completely with it.
Ahamkara is always in the business of protection because constructed identities are inherently fragile. Every person who interacts with you carries the implicit threat that they might see something your self-construct has not included in its official story.
The most powerful version of this inquiry is the one Ramana Maharshi offered his entire life: Who am I? When the impulse to defend arises — in an argument, in a moment of criticism — pause. Ask: who is defending? Not what is being defended. Who is doing the defending? Trace it back. The trace always ends at the same place: an awareness prior to and independent of every specific identity it is currently defending. That awareness does not need protection. It cannot be threatened.
The energy that goes into defending a particular self-image is not available for genuine inquiry, genuine growth, or genuine relationship. The defended self cannot learn from what contradicts it.
Name the one you are protecting right now. The competent one? The spiritual one? The one who does not get angry? Then ask: what would be available if that one did not require protection?