Facing Our Capacity for Evil
It is important to recognize our potential for evil as humans
Everyone has the potential to be a genocidal dictator, a mass murderer, a death camp guard, and every despicable role we can imagine. No matter how much we want to write off these sick and demented individuals as sub-human, insane, or monsters, the truth is that despite their horrendous acts...they are still human.
When a mass shooting takes place, it is comforting to think of the person that committed the act as something other than human. We can't comprehend how someone that is technically the same species as us could do something so heinous.
And yet, the truth is that these individuals are human. Some may be suffering from mental illness, disillusionment, isolation, and general alienation. But the fact remains, they are not some outside entity separate from the rest of the species.
We all need to face the monster within
It's easy to believe that we would never commit such a terrible act in our lifetimes, that we are moral and virtuous people that are incapable of such atrocities. But that's also slightly delusional.
Although most of us would never actually do anything on the level of a mass murder, the fact remains that we all have the potential to do so. Just because we happen to be presently be decent individuals doesn't preclude us from ever straying off the path.
How many times, in a fit of uncontrolled emotion, have you said something to a loved one that you immediately regretted? You knew what you were saying went against your values, yet your emotions led you to blurt out something that was in contrast to your morals.
Though we may believe we have our emotions in check, we frequently find ourselves at the mercy of our impulses. When we do not recognize that there is a dark part of our unconscious that is capable of terrible acts, we are less likely to recognize when we are straying into monster territory.
Acknowledge your capacity for wickedness to reduce the chances of it occurring
A person who is incapable of recognizing their faults is inevitably doomed to falter. This doesn't mean that an individual should ruminate on their potential evildoings to a neurotic degree. We simply need to become aware of our flaws as human beings and honestly face that, despite our best intentions, we still have the ability to engage in unspeakable acts.
No one is a perfect being free from sin or contemptible action. We are not completely separate from the monsters of society, as they are manifestations of the worst parts of human psychology.
But the vast majority of them weren't born that way, and probably wanted the same things from life that you or I still want. Very few people actually view themselves as monsters, even in the wake of committing horrendous acts.
Recognizing the monster within will not prevent all evil, but it will help us realize when we are slipping into precarious territory. And that can make all the difference.
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Really motivational writing sir... I appreciate your content. In our life we can have manu problem we have to face more problems what we can't also imagine but we have to be patience & the strength in us to overcome these things.☺
People can get manipulated easily. Did you ever look into the Jonestown incident in the 1970s. This preacher talked hundreds of people into a mass suicide including their children. How can that even happen?
This is really motivating. I gained a lot and i have upvoted. You are right. We should try to face the within first.
Thank you for sharing this with us
Yes, our laws, social norms, education, upbringing, fairy tales, movies, etc. too often tend to make us unconsciously believe that good is strictly separated from evil. However, good and evil are just two opposite ends on a continuous axis, with none of us really being on its absolute ends, nor even near them.
For example, when someone slips and falls, the vast majority of the people around him tend to laugh. The difference is that some people will smile happily even if the unlucky one gets seriously injured in the process, while some people will laugh only after making sure that the clumsy person is left unharmed.
Really motivating post@colinhoward. There is a lot to learn from this. I read it twice to understand better❤️
Enjoy the post man! Something that has been going through my pathways for awhile now. I've been preaching to certain peers about the power of harnessing your darkness to create light. Many say some are spiritual alchemists that manage to absorb darkness to create light, well maybe they're capable of converting it as well.
An example is manipulation, after a type of exposure to studies such as Machiavelli, well how can a person think that same? They can't if they payed attention. Darkness has stepped into their lives now. They see the power of manipulation, but can we use this subtle influence in order to push individuals down paths they may yearn for? Who knows its something for everyone themselves to test.
I enjoy seeing you talk about people being capable of everything. I agree, many have gone across lines they never thought capable, and then never to return. Its impossible to go back, just like the mindless snap to the spouse.
Keep putting out this quality thought provoking content man!
-Diff
Another upvote for you buddy!