Tips On Not Being Afraid Of “Evil”

“Fear no evil” is often regarded as one of humanity’s guiding principles.

However, some also say that a more appropriate term for “evil” is “unconsciousness”—people acting without awareness of their behavior or its consequences.

There is even a quote that goes “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”

These days, unconscious behavior seems increasingly common. Whether in the workforce, in interpersonal relationships, or even within a household.

Micro-managing bosses, resentful co-workers, overly dramatic friends, or roommates who refuse to pitch in. At times, it can feel like just about anywhere you turn this sort of behavior will follow. Making it feel like the incentive to do just about anything is reduced.

This mindset is typically referred to as “pessimism”. It’s a tendency of overlooking the positives of life, and sometimes concentrating on or concocting potential negatives.

In this article I’m going to look at how to overcome this mindset so that you can become more empowered to strive for better.

Habits

I had the pleasure of reading a really interesting book recently called The Power of Habit. The book talks about the critical role that habits play in the makeup of our lives.

The book details how a few individuals were able to reshape their lives by replacing negative habits with positive ones. One woman in particular was a heavy substance abuser who was able to turn her life around by taking her fitness to new heights. And it all started with developing the right habits.

Other individuals however, simply were not able to take control of their habits. A different woman squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars in casinos because the pull of gambling was too much for her to personally handle.

When looking at things from this perspective, it becomes easier to see that unconscious behavior is often the result of habits that a person is not yet self-aware enough to change.

Sometimes when dealing with people, it is important to keep these things in mind.

Changing Your Environment

The environments that you place yourself in can play a big part in the quality of your interactions with other people. If you tend to put yourself in negative, unhealthy environments, you have a greater chance of dealing with unhealthy behavior. If you place yourself around positive people, you are more likely to encounter kindness and generosity.

This is something that has been particularly relevant throughout my own life. At a younger age I did a poor job of selecting quality environments to place myself within, and as a result I exposed myself to a lot of things I probably would have been better off without in the long run. Thankfully I was able to recognize this at a young age, and it ended up being a positive thing because it put me on the path that I’m on now.

At this point in my life, I am very cognizant of the people that I surround myself with. I can see the difference that it makes.

Pushing Through Regardless

In moments of challenge or adversity, sometimes you just have to remember why you’re on the path you’re on in the first place and just keep pushing through. It’s unfortunate that some people haven’t yet moved beyond unconscious behaviors, but that shouldn’t stop you from following through on what you want to do.

Unfortunately, the people who act out in those ways do much more harm to themselves than to anyone else. Afterall, the behavior that you put forth in the present moment will typically catch up with you in the long run.

In some cases, things may keep getting better for you and worse for others. This is something to be approached with compassion and empathy. Be as understanding as you can be, but realize that it is ultimately up to others to take responsibility for their own actions.

Remaining Optimistic

You are far more likely to encounter positivity, kindness, and friendliness in the world than “evil.” Much of what we refer to as evil is simply our own labeling. In reality, things are as they are. Even situations that may initially be perceived as “bad” often contain a greater good within them.

Challenging circumstances can be helpful in many ways. Without challenge or adversity, we wouldn’t have the same encouragement to grow and become better.

Ultimately, as humans we have the ability to move toward the circumstances that resonate with us most. If you want to improve your life and reduce your exposure to negative people, you have the ability to make that happen.

It ultimately comes down to developing the right habits, seeking out the right environments, and continuing to push forward with diligence and consistency.

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for taking the time to read! I hope that you have enjoyed, and I look forward to seeing you on the next article.