My new book, Four Truths and a Lie will be released on September 11. Look for a special offer on the release date.

How often do you wrestle with monsters?

When I was a child, my brothers and I would always check under the bed and in the closet to make sure no monsters were lurking that might harm us.

If I had to get up in the middle of the night, I had this ritual of rocking and singing out to my mother to turn the hall light on so no monsters would get me.

Monsters come in all shapes and sizes. Almost every culture has its version of what monsters are or how they appear. But are monsters real, and do we ever outgrow them as we mature into adulthood?

Psychologists tell us that monsters are the manifestation of our anxieties, fears, and insecurities. Sigmund Freud argued that our unconscious mind fabricates the monsters that appear in our dreams, reflecting our concerns, worries, and even uncertainties that we are unaware of. 

Here are three points that our mental monsters might be trying to teach us:

1. The Intricacy of Human Behavior - This behavior may be related to past or current trauma or social anxieties that cause people to be "triggered" and unable to function. These actions also help us understand human emotions in relation to social changes.  

2. Fear and Anxieties - Monsters allow us to confront our fears based on the understanding of the world around us. If we are willing to challenge them, they are a tremendous opportunity for psychological development and growth.

3. Empathy and Understanding - When we confront our fears and insecurities, we gain deeper insight into what others may be feeling and how they respond to their inner monsters. This shared understanding fosters greater empathy, enabling us to support others as they navigate self-doubt.

Just as when we were children, today's monsters frighten us, whether they are "natural" monsters that surround us daily or "manufactured" monsters that our subconscious mind conjures up. Regardless of the type of monsters we face, it's important to confront that which scares us. The Latin word monstrare, meaning to demonstrate or show, is where the word monster is derived. By creating these frightening creatures, the subconscious mind is attempting to reveal what truly scares us.

Understanding our doubts and fears allows us the opportunity to become more resilient by confronting and overcoming the fears that haunt us.

Please leave me a comment about what your psychological monsters have taught you. Your opinions and perspectives are valuable, and I'd appreciate hearing from you.