Outwitting the devil?
Have you ever talked to your mom about the devil?
That’s what I did a couple of days ago! It was an experience like no other that I can think of, and I believe it was another step in the right direction to feel closer to her.
Where did such a conversation come from? A few days ago, I finished reading the book “Outwitting the Devil” by Napoleon Hill. The book was written in 1939 but wasn’t published until June 2011.
I started the conversation by asking her about my grandfather and his relationship with religion. According to my mom’s memories, he was a very religious and devout man, attached to the teachings of the Catholic Church and, well, it must be said, afraid of the devil. He made sure to pass that fear on to my mother, who, in a certain way, has also passed it on to me.
Here it comes, the moment of truth ...
I began by explaining to her that the book is about an interview with the devil by Napoleon in which he acquires the right to ask anything and the devil must answer with nothing but the truth.
It was to be expected I heard her voice a little shaky, with some skepticism and fear, wondering if she was still talking to her son. I don’t blame her; I kind of freaked out when I started reading the interview. However, what encouraged me to continue reading was understanding that the devil is nothing more than energy, that he does not have a physical form (horns and tail) as we have been led to believe, and that he only lives in the empty spaces of our thoughts, that its main source of power is the fear that takes over our minds.
She opened her mind when I explained this to her. I knew that we couldn’t go from zero to a hundred all of a sudden, so the next question was: Mmm .. Do you recall instilling this kind of fear in me when I was a child? Well … She said after taking a pause; I tried not to. However, sometimes, it was necessary to mention the devil so that you would go to mass or be obedient. I don’t blame you. I would’ve done the same thing! I said in an affirmative tone.
The window of possibilities is now open, and I’m willing to take that opportunity, so I told her that is exactly where the book’s core lies. To go to mass? She asked! Not necessarily, I replied. So, I proceeded to share with her the main points of the book.
1) What is the devil after?
He wants to take control of unused space in people’s minds. Plant seeds of division, uncontrolled pride, arrogance, envy, vanity, selfishness, and his favorite: FEAR. He wants to keep people trapped in a spiral of negative thoughts and self-destructive habits that drain their vital energy and weaken their focus. He seems to know very well that developing a new consciousness and changing our habits requires a lot of vital energy, courage, and focus.
2) How does he accomplish his mission?
Paradoxically, it is the church, the educational system, and the parents who are of most benefit to him. It is here that children from a very early age learn to fear the devil, and in most cases, they are not taught to THINK FOR THEMSELVES. The educational system focuses on developing memory skills, not analytical skills. When children attend church, their little minds are programmed with fears, such as so-called eternal punishment.
No one wants to be punished for eternity, so we better behave, eat our vegetables, not lie, not sin, etc. It is a manipulative tool, a very effective and damaging one, because it’s rooted in fear and not faith or hope. When you stop being afraid of something, you downplay it, and vice versa. When you are afraid of something, you give it more importance. Where attention goes, energy flows.
3) How can we escape the devil's trap?
By developing habits that serve a firm, definite, and positive purpose. Filling our thoughts with that purpose. Developing critical thinking. Creating a service mentality. Developing the capacity for persistence by learning from temporary failures. Managing our time effectively and acquiring the ability to control our minds, thoughts, feelings, and actions.
After this, we talked about the meaning of faith. I was transported to this paragraph of the book; “Most people pray only after all else fails them. Naturally, they go with their minds filled with fear that prayers will not be answered. Well, their fears come true. The person who prays with a definite purpose and faith in achieving that purpose sets in motion the laws of nature that transmute the dominant desires into their physical equivalent.”
Of course, we had to talk about our free will. One of the phrases I heard as a child came to my mind: “A Dios orando y con el mazo dando” which would literally translate “to God praying and with the mallet hitting.” I have no idea if that makes sense in English! She was surely almost ready to end the subject; it was a lot for a call before dinner. However, this sentence brought us to how part of today’s society pursues instant gratification and doesn’t want to hear the words patience and persistence.
Many people have great ideas, and they want to get out of their current situation, but they don’t want to waste energy by taking action. I don’t blame them. I’ve been there many times. And I may be back at some point. That’s life, ups and downs. But not today. I decided to take action and write this experience, and more than that, share it regardless of the untoward comments it might bring.
Final thoughts ...
We can pray to God day and night. Still, if we do not do our part if we do not take control of our thoughts, emotions, and actions, if we are not able to face and accept our own shadow, if we do not develop critical thinking and see things for what they are and not for what we want them to be, it will be just wishful thinking.
At the end of the day, the choice is ours; therefore, the responsibility is ours; therefore, you know where to look if something needs to change – right! the mirror. There is no movement without action. There is no reward without movement! It is not about wanting things to be easier. It is about seeking to make the most of ourselves through personal growth.
I want to conclude with a thought from Wallace Wattles: “Get rid of the idea that God wants you to sacrifice yourself for others, and by doing so, you obtain His grace and favor. God doesn’t need anything like that. What God wants is for you to do your best for yourself and for others.”
I believe that we can only make the most out of life if we make the most of ourselves, taking action and using the resources that we already have at our disposal: our ability to create and maintain free, creative, and positive thinking. Similar feelings must accompany thoughts, but that is a topic for another blog post.
