Jekyll and Hyde

Jekyll and Hyde originate from Robert Louis Stevenson's book Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde where a man has a split personality: one that's meant to be good and the other evil.

I believe we all have our own unique identities as Jekylls. In order to survive in this reality we live in each of us wears different masks. There's a mask for work, with friends, when you're at home, etc. It's all very well wearing a mask as long as you realise it's only a tool to accomplish a certain goal. The problem starts when you identify so much with the mask that you mistake it as your identity. This gives rise to the Mr Hyde character who then takes over.

Everywhere I look there are Hydes. Hydes love and are addicted to drama. Let's say two Hydes are having a relationship and one "wakes" up for a moment and realises he is actually Jekyll acting like a Hyde. Unless he's very disciplined he's bound to slip back into the old habit of drama, control, fight or flight routine. As long as you have another Hyde feeding your character, the drama continues.

Occasionally, you meet people who refuse to play the game of Hyde and seek. They know who they are as Jekyll and stick to being Jekyll. By being true to their Joy, Jekylls are able to inspire those who are stuck in their Hyde character.

Yesterday I met up with a friend. The strange thing was while my friend looked the same, talked the same, and walked the same, I could sense he wasn't the same man that I feel a lot of affection for. That man in front of me was an impostor who had temporarily taken over my friend's body. Even when we exchanged hugs I felt there was something different about him. When we stopped off somewhere to chat it felt like I was speaking to a stranger, who was going through the motions and using the right words, but he was ice cold. As he relaxed more I started to see elements of my friend, but the impostor was doing a fine job of keeping him hidden. By the time we parted company he was almost back to himself. I hope my friend stays true to the Joy that he is.

Because I live in an environment that is constantly being bombarded with Hyde values and beliefs, it is important, I find, to have a practice or discipline that constantly reminds me to be true to myself. These include:

Being in silence and communing with Self.
Communing with one who is being true to his or her Joy.
Following my joy.

Alternatively, I could always choose to be Mr Hyde. Nah!

Personally, I have no time for Hydes. Why would I choose to love a shadow?

Loving a shadow is like living with an actor. He's been playing an angry man on stage and he's still feeling very angry. When he comes home, his wife senses he's still in character. She knows that encouraging this character is asking for trouble. She helps him to relax and unwind and he releases the character. He's soon back to being the man she loves.

I can help someone in Hyde character to relax so he can be who he truly is. If he insists on being Mr Hyde, I would have to love him from a distance.

Jekyll forever.

Enocia

Related articles: Being Myself is All I Can Do; Staying On an Even Keel; Putting Love First; Identity; Aliveness; Mask; Mary and Martha; Nothing Cannot Harm You