Terrorize the Demons

The Demons that would conspire to hold us back and pull us under need to be summarily neutralized or obliterated!  Some have suggested “Tame the Demons”.  It’s not nearly enough!  Demons want nothing better than to see us wasted!

Unfortunately, most of the Demons we face moment-to-moment reside in our own psyche and we loose or reign them in as it suits our fancy … unless or until they take us beyond the brink of no return.  Demons are very clever: They use every trick imaginable to ingratiate themselves as co-conspirators with us to “beat the system”.  But give them an inch and they’ll take you miles out of your way.

The modus operandi of Demons is primarily temptation.  Our seven core vices are loaded with it:  

Lust

Avarice

Sloth

Gluttony

Pride

Envy

Anger

The key target of Demon engagement is pleasure – more specifically, lowest common denominator pleasure. 

So how does one neutralize or obliterate the Demons – especially since they seem to have cornered the market on ammunition?  

More than a few attempt to neutralize Demons by eliminating pleasure.  In fact, it works.  And, in fact, such orientation largely forms the basis for Islamic detestation of America and Americans.  We’re overtly polluting the sacrosanct austerity of their world.  [Miley Cyrus portraying “frankness”, “honesty” and "authenticity" in her “art”, which is now plastered all over the airways and internet, isn’t exactly helping here!] 

Others attempt to use willpower.  Unfortunately, willpower doesn’t work.  As long as we give ourselves unlimited choices we will choose poorly.  Such is the reason most diets don’t work.  (Is it any surprise that commercial diet plan purveyors aggressively compete to maximize choices, including offerings of everyone’s favorite dessert fare!?!)  

Discipline is another tactic used by many to frustrate the Demons.  It also works – to the degree it is applied.  Discipline is primarily exercised by delaying gratification, but, more effectively, by focusing on higher-level goals and gratifications.  Developing pride in one’s work and accomplishments above pride in oneself is a quantum leap into a whole new dimension of possibilities.  While new sets of Demons appear in higher dimension arenas, the empowerment associated with the transition affords one a significant leveraging capacity.   

And just where do Demons thrive?

Demons thrive on lack of commitment.  Without commitment, a Demon will hold that a paycheck in hand is entirely “discretionary”.  As a result, the cash will disappear in no time flat with absolutely nothing to show for it.

Creativity untapped is another favorite camping ground for Demons; fallow creativity is easily hijacked into fantasy, and fantasy is only a heartbeat away from disillusionment.     

Perhaps most of all, Demons love a void.  They feast on “free time” disengagement.  “An idle mind is the Devil’s playground.”  Work left undone and responsibilities neglected are a Demon’s spoils. 

But, still, there is hope!  Being fully and constructively engaged is anathema to Demons.*  Engagement with Total Intentionality, Purpose, Goals, Accountability, Meaningful Pursuits, Self-Searching and Self-Mastery are all perilously threatening to Demons.  Demons shudder and come completely undone in the face of due diligence, dogged determination and painstaking persistence.

Finally, there are many “Demons” over which we have no direct influence.  But if we directly influence those we CAN – to the full extent we can – i.e., to the point of “terrorizing”, neutralizing and/or obliterating them insofar as possible, it will get us at least to the horizon of our Truest Destiny.  Quartermaster

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“I’m going out to clean the pasture spring;

…

 

I shan’t be gone long – You come too.”

Robert Frost

“The Pasture”