Inner conflict
HeshamAlreedy
July 12th, 2015
Every psychological theory recognizes that we are made upof several different selves. So, obviously, we have more than oneside of ourselves with which to contend.
Moreover, difficultyarises when we consider that frequently our different sides want
to go in different directions. Inner conflict, it's called.
Sometimes one side of us wants to engage in a productiveactivity such as working on a report for work, cleaning thekitchen, or balancing the checkbook.But another side of uswants to watch television and eat chocolate chip cookies, or
anything else to avoid doing something we consider a productiveuse of time. In other words, there is a part of you that does notwant self-discipline. This side of you we'll call Hyde.
anything else to avoid doing something we consider a productiveuse of time. In other words, there is a part of you that does notwant self-discipline. This side of you we'll call Hyde.
In Robert Lewis Stevenson's classic novel, Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde, we find a literary example that perfectly suits ours needshere. Basically the story is about a benevolent doctor who,through chemical experimentation on himself, brought out theevil side of his personality while suppressing the good side.Thetwo sides of himself ended up in a struggle for dominance thateventually destroyed them both. Think of the part of you thatwants self-discipline as Dr. Jekyll, and the part of you that fightsyour attempts at self-discipline as Hyde. Get the idea? Do not,however, think of your Hyde side as an enemy. Think, instead,of Hyde as the part of you that is creative, fun-loving, andpleasure-seeking; the child side of yourself. You do not want todo battle with Hyde, but you want to recruit Hyde as a partnerwho supports your self-discipline efforts.