We can all be monsters (and sometimes, we need to)

We live in an age of feel-good philosophy; look at whatever media you like and it won't be long before you find narratives of empowerment and entitlement. Whether it's a self-help book or a motivational video, the focus is generally the same: beating into the consumer's head by way of constant repetition and flowery, emotive language that the mere fact of their existence makes them wonderful and special. In my view, this attitude is incorrect and if left unchecked, dangerous.

Don't get me wrong, it's important for everyone to feel like they have purpose and value in life. However, basing an entire worldview on the belief that you're one of the "good people" without acknowledging your potential to do harm is to walk down a path that only ends in misery and suffering.

Throughout the course of human history, we have committed hideous crimes against each other and because of our inclination toward simplistic understanding of complex issues, we will often look at a conflict and paint one side as right and just while condemning the other as entirely malevolent. This simply isn't how life works.

If you were to ask two average soldiers on the opposing sides of a war who held the moral high ground, they would probably both argue that theirs was the one fighting for what's right, because only a small minority of people have the capacity to be aware that they're truly evil and not care.

Convincing someone that they stand for good, regardless of the context or repercussions of their behaviour is one of the first steps in programming them to do objectively reprehensible things without an ounce of remorse. This is the reason that today, groups claiming to represent tolerance, equality and respect will attempt to ruin people's lives and commit physical violence against them.

Finally, it's important to remember that our dark sides exist for a reason. I have been studying Taekwon-Do for two and a half years now; at its core, the art is designed to enable practitioners to kill an opponent with ruthless efficiency. One of the most difficult aspects of training is getting comfortable with the thought of doing grievous (possibly fatal) damage to another human being. The simple truth is this; it's better to have the capacity to be a monster and not use it than to be confronted by monsters and realise that all you are is prey.