THE ENEMY WITHIN

“The worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself”

The above quotation is taken from a powerful philosophical novel published in four parts by the great German author and philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, between 1883 and 1891. They were published under the title “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” and related the mythical story of the ancient Persian prophet, Zarathustra coming down from his solitude in the mountain to tell the world what he learnt about God and man. His words were quite definitive indeed, stating that man was his own worst enemy as he explained in the following comments which preceded his conclusion:

“You lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests.

Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils!

You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain.

You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame; how

could you become new, if you had not first become ashes?”

Throughout the section he drew attention to man’s state of mind  which caused him to be his own worst enemy, and concluded that until a man learns to deal with this state, he is doomed to a life of failure and disappointment. He went further to remind us that we must resist blaming the conflict that exists within us on ignorance, for we should all be fully aware of the options available to us. He stressed that we should be aware of a tug-of-war that is constantly raging within us, where one side of us is urging us to move forward, and the other, constantly finding excuses to hold us back.

This is an enemy that is more dangerous than anything else we will ever encounter during our lifetime. It works in secret from within, and can wield tremendous power over the individual. Because of a misguided subconscious desire to protect the individual at all cost, it will use any reason or subterfuge to sabotage plans and frustrate life.  It is a deeply ingrained defense mechanism acquired and developed over centuries of human existence and focused entirely on ensuring survival of the species under any circumstances. It does not concern itself with right or wrong, but exclusively on survival at all cost.

 In every one of us, each moment of living requires attention and decisions directed to securing and advancing life itself within the existing conditions. But while this is happening there are internal instincts acting as negative forces standing in the way, blocking access and preventing progress. It is as if there is a war constantly going on within us, preventing us from finding answers, determined to try to undermine our confidence, to remind us of our supposed inadequacies, and to challenge our resolve. If unchallenged, this inevitably serves to tear us down, destroy our confidence and render us vulnerable. Psychologists refer to them in such terms as ‘Id’ and ‘Ego’ and ‘Conscious’ and ‘Sub-conscious’ but whatever the term used, they are indeed “the devils within.”

         The secret of dealing with your enemy is not by giving in or by being afraid, but rather by understanding it and yourself. In this way you will be able to choose the right steps to ensure victory. As the great ancient Chinese philosopher and military strategist San Tzu, confidently advised:

“When you know your enemy and know yourself, you can fight a hundred battles, without disaster.”

        

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