The goal of the ego is to be number one with as many people as it can.  The role of the intellect is to help it accomplish this goal by telling it what to say to whom and when.  This all makes for a great game until the intellect starts drawing on your personal power in the form of worry to keep the ego inflated.  At this point I usually stop the energy flow by not worrying and watch the ego die.  Sometimes it's a horrible death and then there is silence.  If you can accept the silence and the truth that you are not your ego, the ego will eventually rise again, bigger and uglier than ever.