Why does seeing only “good vs evil” mask a deeper message about human nature and who we really are? How can you empower yourself by making a simple choice?
Well, another conflict has broken out in the world and is dominating news headlines. Once again, we’re presented with uncomfortable images of what aggression can unleash. But could it offer us more insight about ourselves? An opportunity to look inward and review how each of us presents to the world rather than look outward through a good vs bad lens and leave it there?
What do I mean? Well, let’s take it from the top. I think we can agree that human beings are made of the same stuff. In the literal, physical sense, we are all carbon-based life forms. But emotionally, we share the same make-up in that we have a light side: love, compassion, respect, kindness – and a dark side: cruelty, prejudice, judgement, aggression. Humans can honour and protect life just es easily as they can take it away.
No one is exempt from having the capacity to express both sides of human nature.
There are lots of examples of this throughout history. For example, the loving, law-abiding, peaceful men who go off to war where they commit unimaginable atrocities to other men, women and children. They didn’t turn into something else from something they weren’t before. What happened was that circumstance allowed the dark side to take over.
But this is not true, you may say! Gandhi, Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama are 100% good people who couldn’t hurt anyone. Being human, by definition, they will also have the dark within them, but they chose to lead with the light side at all times. Through immersing themselves in meditation, spiritual practices and selfless service, they nurtured the light side to the point where that was all that emanated from them.
So, when you see acts of cruelty and violence out there, you see a side of yourself. When you see acts of love and forgiveness, you see a side of yourself. Therefore ask the question: which side am I going to nurture and choose to lead with in my life? Empower yourself and let that be your response to the world.