As we move through life, accumulating the damage and scars that come with trial and error, attempting to find our place and calling, we encounter various philosophies that seek to shape our understanding of power, control, and personal growth. It is in the context of hardship—pain and suffering, that we must critically examine perspectives that appeal to our lower selves, and attempt to walk a righteous path. With every fork in the road, spawned by tragedy, trauma, or both, hearts and minds are tested; the stake—our lives. Whether we realize it in the moment, or moments too late, few paths lead to our betterment. The rest mark the beginning of another tumble into the mouth of the beast. Some call it hellfire and self-destruction. I am not one to consider such descriptions extreme. They are more than fitting. I liken it to immolation.
One perspective worth investigating beyond surface level reasoning, is the somewhat frequent glorification of what is more recently referred to as the dark triad. Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, to be exact. Those advocating to take on behaviors associated with these traits as tools for personal and professional success, rarely use this sordid language to describe their philosophy. Naturally, such people embody the manipulative elements that they pedestalize. This approach to life, while seemingly pragmatic in a world driven by power dynamics, ultimately traps its adherents in a prison of their own making. The individual becomes a master manipulator, adept at maneuvering through the potentially treacherous waters of human interactions, yet remains bound by the very forces that they seek to control.
The physical world is interpreted by the ego with an emphasis on tangible achievement. It attempts to persuade the mind of the need for psychological trickery in order to get ahead of the competition—other egos, out of control, unhinged, erratic, insane. A genuine practice of meditation and introspection can reveal the ego for the false prophet that it is; allowing one to observe the primary motivations of the ego: fear and insecurity. Through meditation, one opens the mind to the non-physical dimensions, developing a deeper connection with life and its inherent unity. It is from this greater awareness, that self-awareness and inner peace emerge, which in turn, influence the physical world in ways that tactical manipulation cannot.
If it is freedom and fulfillment that we seek; a higher perspective, one that transcends the ego and its insatiable desires, is the only way. Yet, such a perspective cannot manifest in those remaining fixated on power plays and dominance. Instead of escaping the confines of their mental prisons, their type become the most skillful inmates, ruling over their fellow prisoners with a misguided sense of superiority. This dog-eat-dog mentality, while sometimes effective in the short term, always fails to inspire true growth. Consider this reflection by Patrick Bateman at the end of American Psycho: “There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this, there is no catharsis; my punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself. No new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing.”
Real power lies in the pursuit of self-mastery, not in exerting control over others. Quite ironically, the consequence of this approach is that one’s influence grows in direct proportion to their wisdom. Rather than perfecting the art of manipulation, one should focus on gaining a deeper understanding of themselves; by extension, the inner workings of this world will be unveiled to them.
A good man adheres to his values and code, irrespective of circumstance. He lives congruently, finding the greatest value in committing to his principles, unfazed by potential ramifications of the immediate. He is good because he is predictable to himself; reasonable, useful, honorable—to himself. He is good because he understands that the alternative is chaos. His way of life ensures that when death arrives, it signifies a transition rather than a continuation of a meaningless existence.
