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I Have Met The Enemy, And It Is Me!

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Published: 29Aug2008
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They are around you every day - at work, at school, at the supermarket, in the newspapers, everywhere.

Who am I talking about?

For example, you may have recently observed someone at the office complaining to everyone within earshot about how "someone did them wrong...again."

Or maybe you saw on the evening news, during the holidays, people in a fist fight over the last sale item at the local department store.

Or perhaps you read in the newspaper, about the woman who became angry when she was politely asked to move her illegally-parked car in front of a nightclub. She then ran over people standing in line as she tried to crash her car through the front door.

The people I am referring to in these examples are governed by the "self".

I sometimes call these types of individuals, "Sandpaper People", as they always rub us the wrong way (of course you may have your own definition that we can not reprint here!). If we do not work to build self mastery and self control within ourselves, being around Sandpaper People can cause us to feel as if we were rubbed "raw", stressed, demoralized and more.

Why do we experience these emotions that are caused by the "self"? Is it because we are weak? In order to better deal with these situations we must first understand why these people act as if they are the only people in the world.

When you are governed by the self and your feelings of self importance, any time that your selfish comforts are threatened, chances are you will quickly show your irrational, emotional side. Because you are so deeply intent upon defending and guarding your own selfish interests, you believe that you are justified in doing anything to protect them, no matter how dramatic your actions.

The people that I talked about (all real world stories!) in these three examples do not understand that they are their own worst enemy. They continually scheme as to how they may protect themselves against their perceived enemies and use up their precious power. People who are wrapped up in self regard the loss of not only minor things, like in the examples, but also wealth, comforts or material possessions as the greatest calamities that could occur to them.

It is a human condition, and easy for people, when all is going well and they have the enjoyment of all their possessions, to persuade themselves to believe in and adhere to the principles of peace, brotherhood, and universal love. However when their enjoyments are threatened, or they imagine they are threatened, they show a belief in, not peace, brotherhood, and love, but selfishness, prejudice and hatred.

It is the toughest, most challenging times of crisis that decide who the people of self are and those of true power. The threat of disaster, ruin, and discrimination are some of the challenges in life that truly identify those with self control from those who are self centered and weak.

Do these two exercises to see how you have acted and reacted in challenging times...

#1) Close your eyes and remember the time(s) when things in your life were going well. Perhaps it is the present time. Maybe it was in a time long ago. I want you to be honest and evaluate the way you ACTED. Look within yourself to recall how you treated other people. Did you feel happiness and peace with the world? Did you hold to and live by the principles of respect, brotherhood, universal love and charity towards others?

#2) Next, think of a time when things were not going quite so well. Perhaps your possessions were threatened or you imagined they were threatened. You may have lost a promotion to someone else or your job was phased out. I want you to be honest and evaluate the way you REACTED. Did you react with selfishness, prejudice, hatred or other negative emotions? Or what about a minor incident where you were cut off in traffic or you spilled coffee on your new shirt. Or the weather was bad. Or my favorite - the person who beats up their spouse or loved one, because their favorite sports team lost the game - "Hay dios mio!"

When you have developed your power, you will look upon incidents in your life as comparatively insignificant. In comparison, the loss of your character and essence is the only happening which can really be called a calamity. When you have the power of your principles you are a calm, determined, in-control person under all circumstances - even when threatened with the loss of every possession, even to the loss of your reputation.

Mother Teresa said, "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

There is no way to build spiritual power except by inward reflection and enlightenment. It is by constant practicing, and application of your principles that you continue to learn and grow.

Here's to your personal growth!

Keith A. Shaw, President of http://www.MindBodySpiritCentral.com. Headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Keith is an authority on motivation, success, qigong, self improvement, health and happiness. He is the author of The Power Of Serenity And Peace - The Truth To Finding Happiness In Today's Stressed Out World.

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