The Devil You Know
“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.”
I had debated about getting the phrase “The Devil You Know” tattooed on my forearm. I think of the biggest things that have held me back, and also what holds people back from enjoying their lives and having the things they want: the devil in their hearts.
A Very Real Devil
I once had a dream in which manipulation and evil were explained to me. We tend to think that evil people and evil forces force us to do 100% evil things, but this is not effective because it’s easy to see through. People who ask for blatantly evil things are easy to see through. Instead, the masters of deception intertwine truth with negative thoughts. They give you truths that undermine you, and therefore, they are easier to swallow. The biggest devil is believing that you can’t enjoy your life, and that you’re stuck and powerless to do anything about it.
“The only devils in the world are those running around in our own hearts ”
Raise Your Standards
I, like other people, sometimes settle for what I have. Many people set their standards low. Many people seem to be alive simply because they would rather not be dead. “Well, at least I’m dead.” If they’re not dead, then life is going pretty well.
The reason I like this quote, “They Devil You Know,” is that one of the things people frequently do is stay in the current circumstances simply because they understand them. Often, these circumstances are not great, but rather than improving the situation, they accept and stay in it, simply because it’s comfortable. They know it. They know how to handle it. It’s predictable. They don’t make the changes that they need to make. I’m sure you can see this in others. I remind myself to see it in myself.
Abusers Stay With Abusers
Many abuse victims stay with their abuser, and in many cases, even provoke their abuser to abuse them. The idea of living a life without abuse scares them. That may sound odd, but when the abuser doesn’t abuse, the victim is constantly wondering, “Will it happen?” “When will it happen? What will it be this time?” They are in constant fear os some bad thing happening, and they would rather have a resolution than wait to see what happens, because at least they know.
It’s like watching a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and at some point, if it goes on long enough, you get tired, and you want a resolution. It’s exhausting being on the edge of your seat.
I see so many people being abused by life, but they accept it. I remind myself that I can do better. I remind you that you can do better. Insist upon more. You deserve it. You can have it.
Waiting for Life to Change
I know I sometimes find myself waiting for life to change. I forgot that if I want my life to change, I have to change first. Instead, I get lured by the devil of complacency. I say to myself unconsciously and so effortlessly that I don’t realize that I’m even doing it, “Well, in the future…”, or “Maybe tomorrow, “or “If only…”
There is No Tomorrow
The problem is that there is never a tomorrow. It’s always today. It’s always right here and right now. With this idea, that “It’s okay for now,” and waiting for a better future, you spend your life waiting for it to change, and then you wonder why you’re stuck.
A big reason why we stay with our current circumstances is that we fear that we can’t handle something better. We feel perhaps that we don’t deserve something better. We fear that something bad might happen. While our current circumstances are not perfect, they are better than the imagined bad thing that we think might happen.
Challenge Myself
Last night we found ourselves at home with a few pieces of beef short rib, something that we had no experience in cooking or eating.. We were afraid to cook it because we were afraid that we might screw it up and waste our money. We had to admit that we don’t know how to cook everything and be humble. We were afraid we wouldn’t like it. But we forced ourselves to learn how to cook it and cook it, and it was delicious. We loved it! We stepped out of our comfort zone.
I have been afraid to travel to foreign countries ot go to new places, because what if I screw it up> What if it’s bad? What if I book the cruise and everyone hates it? What if I get a bad room? What if the boat sinks? What if I get seasick? What if I book the wrong flight? What if there is a money problem? Can I handle it? Can I handle the new situation? What if I hate it? Fortunately, I have taken many cruises and I love them all, and I have learned in the process. I have learned the best cruise lines, the best ships, and the best places to go. But I wouldn’t have learned if I hadn’t tried and allowed myself to fail. I’ve made mistakes, but in the end, I’m happier for it.
We All Deserve More
There are many antidotes to this “Devil you know” thinking, including tattooing it on your arm. Most importantly, though, remember you deserve more. You deserve to live an amazing life.
Acknowledge What You Want
Many people are afraid to acknowledge what they want because what they want seems impossible or unlikely. It’s okay to acknowledge what you want and that you might not get it. However, allow yourself to see the possibility that, at least, just maybe, you can have all that you want.
Learn New Things
Focus on learning. Try to learn about things that you didn’t even know that you could learn about. Or just learn more about the things in your life. What do you spend most of your time doing? Cleaning? Driving? Cooking? Answering customer calls? Raising children? Music. Spend time to learn more about it. Don’t assume that you know it all. Is there something you hate? People you hate? Learn about them.
Go To New Places
Don’t stay in the same place all the time. Go to new places. Try a new restaurant or a new grocery store. Go to a new museum. Go to a different town. Go to a different country. Go across the world. Why? Just because. Just because it’s good to learn and grow and expand your way of thinking.
Try New Things
Mix things up. Try something different. Watch a completely different TV show or movie. Try a different food. Cook a different food. Try listening to different music. Try a different way to work or go to the store. Try a completely different type of job or career. Change your hair. Get a different car.
Insert Upon a Higher Quality Life
Don’t accept that the life you are living is good enough. It’s one thing to appreciate what you have, but it’s another to deny what you want and what you deserve. How can you improve the quality of your life?
How Can You Improve Today?
Ask yourself, if there was one thing that you could do today that would make your life better and more enjoyable, what would it be? Then do it.
Live Your Life
The devil wants to keep you from living your life and not expressing yourself fully. The devil wants you stuck waiting for a better future that will never happen. Be bold. Make a change. Step outside your comfort zone. You’ll survive, and if you don’t, at least there will be a good story.
Are you willing to stand up to the devil in your life? Do it. All these words are useless if you don’t take action. Don’t wait for tomorrow, do it today.
