Are You Creating Devils? The Hidden Cost of Blame
One of the downsides of losing religion in the modern world is that we’ve replaced a singular, agreed-upon devil with countless personal devils. In the past, people gathered every week to reaffirm their shared battle against a universal evil. It was simple, clear, and collective.
But today, we still have the same human need to explain why things go wrong. The idea that chaos just happens—that misfortune, failure, and discomfort are random—troubles us. So, we search for someone to blame. Instead of confronting our own fears, weaknesses, and responsibilities, we externalize them. We find a villain.
And now, instead of a singular devil, we have made devils out of people.
This might feel satisfying in the short term. Blaming a person, a group, or an ideology offers clarity and certainty in a complex world. It simplifies our struggles and gives us a clear enemy. But there’s a cost: we risk avoiding the real work of change.
If you find yourself becoming increasingly polarized in your views, if you notice yourself fixating on a person or group as the sole reason for your frustrations, take a moment to reflect.
- Am I searching for an outside solution to an inside problem?
- Is there something I need to take responsibility for?
- Would taking action improve my life more than looking for someone to hate?
Blame is easy. Growth is hard. But real progress happens when we shift our focus from the devils outside to the changes we need to make within.
