We all know about demons. They are usually ugly, mean, bad-tempered and a bit unfriendly. All those particular characteristics make them pretty scary and hard to deal with as they lack any kind of social skill. We have seen them mostly within a fiction story in books -like in the Bible-, movies, and even on famous paintings. But don't fool yourself. The scariest demons are much closer to you and they are quite real.
They are inside your head.
Do you remember those cartoons showing an angel on one shoulder of the main character and a devil on the other one? Well, it's not exactly like that. Let's say that, in a normal condition, you are behaving more like the angel -kind of- and there is this voice inside your head -the devil- trying to mess around with you. Every time you have a mean thought about something or somebody is coming from that fella and its nasty voice. It's always up to you how much power and reliability you give to that voice, for it will determine your current mood and thought. Are you usually listening to that voice? Then I guess you are normally angry, upset, unhappy, maybe depressed... During that types of mental condition, we are possessed by that demon inside of us. Since we did open wide the doors of our mind to it, we are giving them the power to fully control our will. Then, the tiny voice in the background would be the angel one, trying to fix the mess by advising you to calm down, to be kind and to come back to your senses.
Now, the good news is that you can only be possed by either the angel or the devil at a time so it's up to you which one it's gonna be at any given time. Your partner didn't do the dishes? Here it comes this little guy complaining about it inside of your head. Your workmates left you a messy working area? Here it comes again this voice, tantalising you with both sweet and sour mean words against your colleagues.
Still, this is not the worst thing this little bastard can do to mess with you. That's the same well-known voice always saying that you are not good enough doing this or that. It's the same voice teasing you about your dreams, putting you down every time by reminding you how ridiculous they are. Do you want to be a writer? Are you kidding? Your mind goes as blank as that piece of paper in front of you every time you are trying to write anything. Do you want to be an artist? You have not a clue about art. Your paintings are going to look ridiculous so don't even bother to start.
Those are just a few examples you might be familiar with. Yes, we all have been there. It's tough to fight against yourself, but it's something we must do. Take it as a challenging internal mental test we all need to overcome every time we are willing to achieve that so important personal goal for ourselves. While that internal fight is quite an energy-draining experience, the reward after a victory is even greater. That's why you should never give up. Remember that success only comes after many failures. If it were so easy, it wouldn't be so exciting, don't you think?
And this is the point when I need to tell you a secret. Despite all the pain this little demon and its voice may provoke on us...we need it. Think of it as the balance in the universe. We need light as much as we need darkness, for one cannot exist without the other, like the yin and yang. For the same reason, we need evil as much as we need goodness. Well, we need much more goodness around us than evil but we need them both for the sake of a universal balance. And it doesn't matter how big or small this universe is. In your head, in your family, within a community, in the whole planet...There always has to be a balance. That's the most interesting thing.
We have the power to decide which voice we listen to. We have to choose whether we are mean or kind during our whole lifetime. Every day, every minute of it. A tough decision nobody can take for you. Your parents and the society you grow into may push you towards one way or the other, but eventually, you are the only one taking the final step.
I would like to take this opportunity to use this article as a homage to my partner. Thanks to her I'm a much better person than I would be on my own, and I think this is one of the best compliments any human being can receive. She helps me fighting my demons -yeah, I’ve got more than one- every time they arouse upon me. She is that powerful-as-hell lighthouse leading me away from the deep darkness I sometimes find myself into. Her unconditional love keeps me away from drowning in the uneven waters of life when my demons try to grab my legs, dragging me down to the deepest blackness of the bottom of the ocean.
Thank you, my child. Next to you, I'm closer to the happiness I would ever be able to be on my own.
If you ever feel weak, if you feel your demons are taking over your mind and your will. If you are struggling to keep yourself afloat and feel how you are drowning among the challenges that life put us through, seek some help. It can be your partner, your best friend, your family, your pet or even that special totem you have. Just attach yourself to something or somebody if you think you are losing the battle against your demons. But most importantly, whatever you do...never give up.
So choose your weapons...and fight!
Now enjoy this song called 'Monsters' by Empathy Test.
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