How does Benjamin or Donald live in you?

by Russell Pollitt SJ

We live in a world saturated by horrific violence. Whether it is the insurgency in Northern Mozambique, the violence in the DRC, Sudan and Myanmar, or the genocide in Gaza, every day we hear about the horrific violence people mete out on each other.

But violence is not something that happens “outside” us. The genesis of violence lies in the human heart and soul. Every one of us is capable of terrible violence. When we do not deal with our emotional turmoil, woundedness and unresolved conflicts in our psyches, it can manifest externally, leading to violence outside of us and within communities and nations. Suppose we do not confront the dark side of our ego, including our self-centredness, confusion, insecurities, and thirst for power and control. In that case, these unaddressed aspects of ourselves do not remain private but escalate into harmful actions that affect others and disrupt social harmony.

Internal violence, such as feelings of anger, frustration, insecurity, the dark side of the ego or pain, can build up over time if not acknowledged and processed correctly. When these emotions remain suppressed or unexpressed, they will inevitably surface as aggressive behaviours or acts of violence. The “macho” image is often a façade for a deeply wounded soul.

Someone experiencing intense inner rage may lash out physically or verbally, causing harm to peers, family members, or strangers. Such outbursts are often symptoms of deeper internal issues, such as trauma, mental health disorders, or feelings of powerlessness. Without intervention or coping mechanisms, these internal struggles are likely to manifest externally, creating a cycle of violence that will spread beyond the individual.

Internal conflicts such as ego or identity/power struggles, alienation, fear or unresolved grief can foster resentment, hostility and eventually horrific violence.

For example, a person facing internal feelings of worthlessness might be drawn into gangs or extremist groups, which promote violence as a means of asserting power or seeking acknowledgement. In this way, internal vulnerability becomes a catalyst for external violence, affecting not only the individual but also the community. Sometimes, such people have access to powerful weapons and think they can deal with others by shooting missiles and dropping bombs to make themselves feel better or maintain their power and image. The truth is they suffer a deep soul-sickness; they are raw and vulnerable, and others become the object of their internal brokenness.

Unaddressed internal violence can also influence societal norms and perceptions, perpetuating cycles of violence. If societies neglect (or deny) mental health issues and emotional well-being, internal struggles become normalised, and violence may be seen as an acceptable expression of this.

The internal violence, which we are all capable of, is the catalyst for external violence. Recognising and facing our internal struggles is crucial not only for individual well-being but for fostering peace. Don’t be fooled, longer missiles and bigger bombs will not end the spiral of violence in the world. Violence will end when each of us honestly faces the vulnerable, broken, wounded and dark side of our egos.