Breaking FREE - confronting our Demons

Breaking FREE - confronting our Demons

I wanted to start the new year by confronting our fears, in this case demons. Regardless if you feel or think demons are real, is really based on your perception and belief system.

This is a very challenging topic to discuss, some of you may feel that demons are make believe and figments of our imagination. While others may believe in their existence, even though they have no physical proof. While a minority of us may believe they exist like you and me.

I am not writing to prove or disprove their existence, because regardless if we see them, they have other names they go by like pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth.  These are also known as the seven deadly sins.

The message I want to convey to you is that we can keep our demons in check by confronting them. I personally do believe in a higher power; i also know there can be no light without darkness.

Before we can confront our demons, we must label them and understand their control over us. When you give something a name, it loses it's power and anonymity over us.; hence confronting our demon(s), means understanding who, what, why, when, and where.

Once we uncover their identity, it becomes easier relinquishing their control on us. I am not saying we can destroy our demons, just that they will lack control in influencing our actions.

Some of us are terrified of our demons, we feel that they are too powerful to face, much less incite them to hurt us physically or emotionally.

The fact is demons need us to give them strength to dominate us. Whether it is greed or lust, they seek out weakness and turn it against us. It starts with a seed of doubt, whether it is doubting our abilities, or beliefs in ourselves.

They gnaw on the fear of what might happen if we don't do something, or do something other then what they believe is in their best interest.

Every demon has a weakness, for example greed, greed wants us to not worry if we hurt someone to get what we want. Greed is defined by Dictionary.com as "intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food." Greed looks to exploit others by gaining their trust and using it against them to seek gain to our benefit.

According to Google AI "To overcome greed, you can practice gratitude, actively focus on your needs versus wants, engage in acts of generosity, volunteer to help others, and cultivate a mindful approach to your spending habits, shifting your focus towards contentment with what you already have rather than the desire for more."

Let's look at Pride, many of us feel that Pride is something we should strive for to be proud of ourselves.To an extent pride can be a good thing to practice, but let's take it to the extreme on how pride can hurt us.

according to Google AI "Yes, having too much pride can be detrimental, as it can lead to arrogance, a lack of self-awareness, difficulty accepting criticism, strained relationships, and hinder personal growth; essentially, excessive pride can prevent individuals from learning and improving themselves by creating a false sense of superiority." 

I am certain most of you have dealt with people who think or act like they are superior to us.

To overcome being too prideful, is to practice being humble and learn humility. I am not saying don't strive to be the best person you can be. Just not think or feel that you are so much better then the rest of your peers etc.

For every demon, we must understand who or what they are, and acknowledge their presence, yet don't allow them to control you through intimidation or fear.

My challenge for you is to confront your demons by understanding they have no control except for the power we give them.

I am not ignoring the minority who believe demons exist in real life...that I would leave up to your religious beliefs and how they deal with them through exorcisms or magic totems etc.This a path beyond my scope.

However if your demon is a person, I would contact the authorities and escape your nightmare by leaving and seeking counseling.

For the majority of us who are afraid of the predicament their in, or headed towards, practice being in the present, and acknowledge you may need help, as well as practicing being grateful.

Prayers,

Mandie