The Enemy Within

There is a classic Star Trek episode (The Enemy Within) in which a transporter malfunction causes Captain Kirk to split into two- a good Kirk and a bad Kirk. With all the darker aspects of his nature distilled out into a separate being, the good Kirk is unable to function. He is weak-willed, indecisive, and lacks the ability to command. The moral of the show is that we need the darker aspects of ourselves, that our selfishness, anger, lust, and fear when balanced with intelligence, compassion and courage actually improve us. Our darker aspects are necessary and removing them isn’t just impossible, it would actually damage us.

So, what if?

What if the darkest aspects of yourself were actually crucial to you? What if they weren’t the enemy after all? What if they made you stronger? Better? Wiser?

Could you choose, as Kirk ultimately does, to accept those darker aspects into yourself, as an essential and important part of you?

What then?

Apply it in your life: Can you live with the darker parts of yourself?