Futureproofing: Know Your Enemy

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. - Ephesians 6:12

Knowing your enemy is a skill that requires patience and understanding. As the quote above indicates, the enemy isn't always an individual, but a mindset or process. In ancient times, the problems wasn't necessarily the citizen of a Roman territory going about his business, the problem was Rome. This is not meant to excuse all abusers (think Nazi SS officers and the "following orders" excuse), but people for the most part are decent. However, powers, processes, and zeigeist can lead even the strongest astray.

In our time, greed, fear, and hate are all great enemies, alone or in combination. Those in power, be it world leader or bank branch employee, can use any of the above to keep the rabble in place. Never forget: you are the rabble to the person on the opposite side of the desk, the one whose name appears on the plate.

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, for which no one has been prosecuted almost a decade on, is it any surpise that the horror creature of the time is Slender Man? He is a slim, spectal ghoul with no facial features, long limbs, and a black suit and tie. He is a near-perfect caricature of a banker. Not coincidentally, he was introduced in 2009.

Your enemy is any entity, corporation, government, society that would enslave you to its own mindset while denying you your own. To be sure, individals populate said entities, and enforce said mindset. But individals can reason and change (for the most part). Your job is to resist. In a world of misery, find happiness and exude it. In a world of negativity, focus on the positive. Be brave in the face of fear, and watch fear shrink. Resist hate, embrace love. You are the master of your own thoughts - do not give in to zeitgeist, the feeling of an age, for ages pass. Stay true to yourself and the eternal.

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