It has been one of those summers where I have seen the growth inside myself and the people I surround myself with. Those who know me may have seen a few changes in my demeanor, and even a few adjustments I have made due to the situation I have live in. I am trying to pursue a dream, to become a more inventive person and show creativity through my words. This being said leaving behind the small strands of negativity that seem to form inside my space has become very difficult. I have learned that it takes my own self belief to be successful not the world who watches me. The temptations in this world vary from the smallest infractions to the biggest misunderstandings, but they are evident and affect us every step of our growth. Putting the thoughts of society in perspective is a way to weed out the positive things in our lives with the negative things. For some reason negativity receives most of the shine in today’s society. I remember reading this passage by Oscar Wilde one of my favorite writers as he explains temptation in An Ideal Husband "Do you really think ... that it is weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptations that it requires strength, strength and courage, to yield to. To stake all one's life on a single moment, to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake is power or pleasure, I care not -- there is no weakness in that." This quote speaks to me because people have begun to lack the ability to fight the bad temptations but go into long strenuous battles with the good temptations.
It is easy to fall victim to something everyone has had their battles with, but it takes a strong person to fight for the things that make you a better person. Society loves to highlight what people did to get into certain situations, but never do they release the story of perseverance. Throughout the days, we have seen a lot of misconceptions and witnessed a lot of blood spilled on the hands of those who allow the smallest things to affect their morale. Fighting temptations is not a easy thing to do but the challenge is the reason we are here on earth a life without challenges is a dull existence in my opinion. How do you ever grow if you never beat something that was pushing against your beliefs, and how can someone survive without a little adversity. The ability to know that temptations are there is extraordinary already but to put your own thoughts above its existence is a quality of someone who have learned the true meaning of facing something supernatural and winning the battle. Robert Ingersoll referred to temptation in his book How to Reform Mankind, Works "Temptations are as thick as the leaves of the forest, and no one can be out of the reach of temptation unless he is dead. The great thing is to make people intelligent enough and strong enough, not to keep away from temptation, but to resist it." It is important to be fearless when it comes to temptations because fear only brings doubt and if you doubt your strength to fight then you no longer have the upper hand. We all have faced our own demons, I know I have and I am still going through the things that hold me back. I watch other people and I realize it takes that rare quality of perseverance that will elevate me to the next level. I love uniqueness about people but one thing I have learned from unique people is that we are rarely understood. I ask you, are you willing to battle the many temptations that surround you as a person? Think about it.
