Temptation is a powerful emotion. It comes from expecting to feel good from something we’ll regret. We know we’ll regret it, but we still want to do it, often unable to shake the thought of it.

I’m not a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings, but I think one of the parts of it that stands the test of time so much is the One Ring, a concept that I think rings true for everyone.

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

The One Ring makes you feel powerful, even invincible. It even gives you power while you use it, but you lose power overall in indulging to use it. It affects the innocent and less powerful less.

Despite all the epic grandeur of the books and movies, I think this simple concept, and that only humility, simplicity, and innocence can overcome what power and strength succumb to, is what makes it most appealing. One Ring. So simple, so universal, so powerful. So revealing of your weaknesses, especially the ones you try to hide the most. The only defense for the most powerful is to admit your weakness and not try to use it.

We all have temptations like the One Ring, I believe: golden and beautiful to behold, great and terrible in power, unforgettable like a nightmare, at once energizing and draining on your soul, separate from all you do yet connected to everything, secret yet universal, and close to your heart and mind like a yoke around your neck.

Do you have one? If so, can you share it?

We wish we didn’t because the temptation distracts us and reveals our lack of innocence. We covet the feeling of power it would give us to indulge in, however much we know the falseness of the power. Consider when you let loose some rage you’ve felt but suppressed for too long. How good would it feel to finally yell at that person who you feel caused the rage, despite knowing you’d regret losing your composure, and knowing the lost composure would lower your influence with the person, not raise it? Consider splurging on something you want but can’t afford. Or eating that food you’ll regret. Like itches you know that scratching will make worse.

Do you recognize that you lose power to the One Ring? Have you learned to overcome it? If so, how?

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