Evil, it’s everywhere, isn’t it? You can’t flip through the news or scroll through social media without tripping over some negativity or sketchy behavior. It can be quite overwhelming. Rather than spending our days condemning evil, we can learn to navigate through it, without letting it drag us down.
Evil Means Different Things
What’s considered “evil” can vary from one person to the next. One person’s villain is another person’s misunderstood anti-hero. This variance can make it easy to slip into judgment, and we are tempted to do just that!
When we see someone doing something we consider wrong, we instantly assume the role of the judge with moral authority. We want to right the wrongs as if we were deities equipped with true moral compasses. Is that really the healthiest way to go about it? If we spend our waking moments judging the actions of others, we’re not just exhausting ourselves. We’re also feeding into a cycle that keeps negativity alive and kicking.
Why Not Judge?
Making judgments feeds our ego. When we respond to evil or cruelty with disdain, we’re often just trying to elevate ourselves in some twisted way. It’s easy to feel superior when we compare ourselves to those we believe are morally deficient. But here’s where it gets tricky. The moment we take the bait, we act like an animal reacting to a poke. Instead of simply observing our feelings, we growl and puff up.
If we can learn to view these situations as opportunities for growth, we will find ourselves smelling like a rose. Others find themselves stuck in a rose bush full of thorns.
Watch Your Feelings: The Only True Safeguard
Feelings are where the magic happens__both the good and the bad. Do not battle the emotional whirlwind that comes with encounters of the evil kind. Instead, it is more beneficial to simply watch our emotions without reacting. Your only safeguard against the presence of evil is not to react to its cruelty, criticisms, and flattery. Otherwise, you will end up confused by it.
Anger and resentment can sometimes feel like they are tag-teaming your metal well-being. Anger, that primal reaction, is our inherent animalistic side getting riled up. For instance, when someone pokes you with a metaphorical stick, you growl with anger. But then what happens? Before you know it, resentment sneaks in, and suddenly, you’re not just angry anymore. You’re embroiled in a melodramatic internal dialogue where you feel superior to your tormentor. Those feelings of superiority, though, are deceptive. They can start a cycle where you become wrapped up in feeling good about being angry. This feeling will overshadow the reality of the situation. The trick here is to leave your animalistic reactions alone. And that’s where things start to change, believe it or not.
Anger vs. Resentment: The Distinction
Resentment you have control over, but anger you don’t. Eventually you can learn to control anger also through overcoming the resentment part. Until you get pass the resentment, you won’t be capable of controlling the anger. Not only that, but you become more angry and more sensitive.
By wallowing in resentment, we fail to see our own flaws and weaknesses. Instead of focusing on our true issues, we distract ourselves by trying to feel superior to the “evil’ we notice. When you catch yourself feeling angry, breathe deeply and slowly count to ten. Watch that feeling without judgment. You don’t need to feed that angry feeling with resentment. Simply observing it will lead you to deeper understanding. Over time, you can start to master this. It’s all about observing your emotional landscape without getting attached to it.
The Power of Poise
The bottom line is this: life is messy, and there’s no shortage of negativity to contend with. We can choose to stay neutral in the presence of evil. This positions us far above it. We manage this by not feeling personally offended or personally uplifted. Evil can tempt you to make a judgment which builds your ego up to make you feel like a god.
Your emotional state is yours to govern, so protect it fiercely! If we can manage to consistently watch our feelings, we cultivate a sense of inner peace. Observing fear, anger, and resentment objectively helps us flourish, even when the world around us is anything but peaceful. This doesn’t mean we become doormats for evil or pretend it doesn’t exist. It means we acknowledge its presence without letting it dictate our emotional responses or sense of self worth.
Remember, every time you face something that makes you clench your fists, take a step back. Consider this moment as an exercise in emotional intelligence. It’s a chance for you to notice that fire burning within without pouring gasoline on it.
Embracing the Process
It takes practice. It’s not easy to break the habit of reacting. But each time you consciously choose to observe instead of judge, you are building resilience. You are training your mind to rise above the petty squabbles that can easily drag you down. Overtime, you will notice that the things that once got under your skin barely affect you anymore.
When you master this art, you will see the potential goodness and growth in even the most “evil” situations. You’ll be capable of engaging with the world more freely and less fearfully. You will know that you can witness the unpleasantness around you without it defining your emotional landscape.
Conclusion: Rise Above
So, the next time you find yourself confronted with the grim realities of human behavior, take a deep breath. Hold your ground. Remind yourself that it’s not your job to judge, correct, or even be offended. Your only responsibility is to stay aware of your feelings and respond with grace.
You will know what to do or not to do when you are self-aware and there in the moment. You will clearly see what is appropriate to do when you are not emotionally riled up with anger. By practicing this consistently, you’ll eventually find yourself feeling lighter and free from the chains of resentment and anger. You won’t be just surviving amongst the chaos, you’ll thrive. And isn’t that what we all ultimately want? Here’s to a life lived above the fray!
Here is a resource to help you dive deeper into this narrative.
Mindfulness: A Non-Judgmental Awareness
BP 170
