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Key points
- We all have inner demons originating from our negative thinking, suppressed emotions, and past traumas.
- Inner demons can become a source of fear and anxiety in our lives.
- We can overcome our inner demons by cutting through their illusion and realizing our true nature.
We all have them, and very few of us like to acknowledge them. They often haunt us from early childhood, and they are hard to shake. What am I referring to? Your inner demons.
What do I mean by inner demons?
They take various forms for various people. They can take the form of regret, shame, rage, jealousy, grief, loss, or any other negative emotion or experience that is always lingering in the darkest recesses of our minds and hearts and casts a shadow over everything we do. They can also take the form of negative thinking. You know exactly what I'm talking about because most of you have them.
Inner demons usually originate from painful or traumatic experiences from our past, which we have not fully processed. Now, these do not have to be major traumas but could be as simple as perceived neglect from one of your parents during a moment when your sibling got all the attention. It is not the nature of the event that matters but how it is perceived by the experiencer.
How do you know that you have inner demons? There are many signs that can reveal them to you:
- Do you feel sad or hopeless for no particular reason?
- Do you suffer from a pattern of negative thinking?
- Do you continuously face relationship challenges?
- Are you always in debt and cannot get financially ahead?
- Are you always suffering with health challenges?
- Are you suffering with anxiety for no particular reason?
- Do you struggle with one or more addictions?
- Do you feel that the whole world is against you and waiting for you to fall from grace?
- Are you surrounded by negative people?
- Have you ever contemplated ending it all?
These are just some of the questions that, if you answer yes to, will reveal to you that you likely live with inner demons. The problem with inner demons is that most of us fear them, which is why we do everything we can to suppress them.
Why do we suppress our inner demons? It is because, for most people, they are too painful to experience. It is easier to push them away and ignore them by getting lost in the external world. Inner demons are the main reason why people get lost in the outer world and never seek to journey within. This is because they know that their inner demons are there, lurking in the shadows, and will have to be confronted when they start the journey within.
This is why so few people experience the depths and beauty of their inner world: Their inner demons become gatekeepers to these realms and keep them from entering. So, the question arises: How does one overcome and rid themselves of inner demons?
It all begins with acknowledging their presence. If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you likely suffer from inner demons; however, let's make it simpler for you. If you have lived more than eight years, then you certainly have inner demons.
You see, our personalities are formed in the first seven years of our lives and, for the most part, most of the influences we come across are vastly negative, including our peers, the education system, the mass media, popular culture, marketing and advertising, government, social media, and the internet. When we are exposed to so many negative influences, we are bound to have adverse experiences in our early childhood, which are often painful, and we suppress these feelings, which eventually become our inner demons.
So, the question then arises, how does one shake their inner demons and release the grip they have on us once and for all? I will tell you that it is not an easy journey to take and requires discipline, courage, and commitment. However, if you are willing to experience some discomfort for your greater benefit, this is the greatest journey you can ever take.
The first thing you must do is acknowledge your inner demons. You do this by recognizing if you have a recurrent pattern of negative thinking or limiting beliefs in any area of your life. Another sign is if you are easily triggered and break down in the face of stressful situations.
Once you acknowledge your demons, then bring your full awareness to them. Do not judge them but just become aware. Tell your inner demons that you understand why they are there but that they can no longer hold you hostage and you no longer need their protection. Start to disidentify with them and start to glimpse your higher consciousness or being that lies at your essence, which your inner demons have been obscuring. Bring your focus to this deepest part of who you are and realize that this is the source of your existence.
Do this practice daily for at least 21 days, which has been suggested as the minimum number of days it can take to break a habit. From that point forward, any time you start to identify with your inner demons, gradually shift your awareness to your deeper essence or consciousness. You can do this by visualizing a light emanating from the centre of your body, out beyond your skin. With disciplined awareness, do this practice daily and every time your inner demons arise, and it will become second nature.
Eventually, your inner demons will fade away into the background, and your inner light will shine forth brighter than ever. This is the path to awakening to your true nature beyond all illusions of identity. It is not an easy path to take, but it is well worth the journey if you have the courage to confront your inner demons and slay them with the light of your consciousness.
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7, dial 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
