"في كل واحد منا تتصارع طبيعتان الخير والشر"

Our inner lives aren't as simple as we'd like to think. At any given moment, inside every person, there’s a battle happening between the best parts of us – our kindness, our honesty, our compassion – and the darker sides – our selfishness, our anger, our jealousy. It's like having two voices in your head, each trying to pull you in different directions.

This idea isn’t new. It’s been around for centuries and pops up in different cultures and stories. Way back in ancient times, stories like the Greek myths talked about internal struggles. Even in modern times, think about comic book characters like Batman, who is constantly grappling with his own darkness while trying to do good.

Let’s make this concrete with an example. Imagine you're at work, and a colleague just got the promotion you wanted. Now, here’s where the two natures come in. One part of you might be genuinely happy for them, recognizing their hard work. That’s your good side. But there’s another part that might feel jealous, even resentful. That’s your darker side. The way you choose to act – whether you congratulate them sincerely or let that jealousy fester – shows which side wins that battle at that moment.

How do you apply this wisdom? It’s about being aware. Recognize when these internal battles are happening. When you feel that tug-of-war, pause. Take a beat to really think about what's driving your feelings. Is it coming from a place of kindness or somewhere darker? And then, make a conscious choice to lean into the good. It’s not easy, and it's not like you win the war once and for all. It’s a daily struggle, sometimes even moment-to-moment. But just being aware can make a huge difference.

Let me tell you about a friend of mine, Sarah. Sarah’s got a great job and a loving family, but she’s human, just like the rest of us. One day, her younger brother called her with big news: he’d landed his dream job. Now, Sarah was happy for him, but she also felt a pang of jealousy. She’d been working hard too, and her own career wasn’t exactly where she wanted it to be.

So, she had a choice. She could either let that jealousy grow, making her resentful and bitter, or she could acknowledge it, understand that it was natural, and then choose to support her brother wholeheartedly. Sarah decided to have an honest talk with herself. She reminded herself of the importance of family and how much she truly loved her brother. Instead of letting the darker side win, she chose to celebrate his success, even offering to help him prepare for his new role.

That’s how the wisdom of this quote plays out in real life. It’s about those everyday moments where we get to choose which side we’re going to feed. And the more we feed the good side, the easier it becomes to let it win the next battle. Think about it next time you’re caught in one of these internal conflicts. Recognize it, pause, and then choose the path that aligns with your better nature. It’s a constant practice, but it’s worth it.