Seriously, you need to have an enemy. If you have none, find a good way to make some.
The existence of enemies should not be a cause for despair as their presence is not an anomaly but a constant throughout history; enemies and rivalries will forever exist. Social interactions can generate friction; blissful isolation invites envy; and alliances can be a response to, and a source of, enmity. For our very friendships, if nothing else, can involve us in enmities we may not have had beforehand. Regardless of the effort we dedicate towards having harmonious relations with others, enemies are an inescapable and enduring reality of business, political and social life.
The question then becomes what should we do about them. Compete with them and defeat them - yes, of course. But we can turn this reality - the presence of enemies - into an opportunity or benefit.
It is obvious that enemies are dangerous as they seek to destroy us in some way, and also life would be much easier without them. But a sign of the wise is in the ability to figure out how to benefit from otherwise undesirable situations.
Fools spoil even their friendships, while wise men are able to make a fitting use even of their enemies
Seriously, it’s time to find a good enemy. Not sure why?
The Law 2 of Robert Greene’s 48 laws of power states that: never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies. The idea of benefiting from enemies is something most individuals have never considered. It could be a good strategy if create such beneficial opportunities and utilize them effectively.
I won't be telling you how to use enemies, but I am going to tell you why you need some if you have none.
1. The existence of enemies as an incentive to improve
The presence of a relentless enemy that is constantly watching us, seeking to destroy us through our own faults, is an incentive to improve. The mere recognition of the rival’s presence alters how we behave. The mere acknowledgement of the existence of an enemy, even of one that is yet to act, ought to provoke an alteration in our behaviour and lifestyle. Once we recognize that a particular enemy exists, we face incentives to modify our outlook for the future, how we prepare and organize ourselves.
The beneficial change stems from the fact that the enemy is a critic who always searches through and through to point out our weaknesses. He plays the detective; constantly keeping up patrol about your life, lying in wait to take advantage of your actions, seeking out our weak spots in order to undermine our safety or reputation.
2. The enemy keeps you focused
Having an enemy is good motivation to stay heads-down on producing the highest quality results. You should count yourself as lucky, if you have rivals or enemies who keep you focused and motivated. They provide a balance without which it’s possible to become complacent and suffer stagnation.
3. Enemies spur us to be more coordinated and efficient
Enemies spur us to be more coordinated and efficient.
When there is rivalry and competitions with other people, individuals seek to improve their capabilities and skills. It pushes people to work together and to improve the outcome of the situation. The existence of enemies provide an organizing principle for our strategy. Without them, one lets oneself go, so to speak.
4. The presence of enemies or rivals in business stimulates innovation
If you’re the only business in your field, chances are you’re more likely to become comfortable and complacent. This slows down innovation to a crawl, and that can spell doom for a company. But with rivals and competition, you’re constantly looking at ways to improve and how to one-up them and stay ahead at every turn.
5. The presences of enemies releases the pressures.
Finally, is the opportunity and the ability to vent emotions on the enemy taking it far away from your associates and relatives. The enemy serving as a punching bag to release emotions that otherwise may create discord among friends.
Your enemy, by taking up and diverting to himself your malice and jealousy, will render you more kindly and less disagreeable to your friends in their prosperity.
On the flip side
Enmity can generate envy along with hatred. This will leave as a residue jealousy and joy over other's misfortune. Also, hatred will prevent a more calculating posture, blinding us and leading to unnecessary conflicts with the enemy. More importantly, a long-standing enemy and the hatred this may engender is dangerous because it degrades us.
Closing Thoughts
Despite what you know, enemies can be a positive. And as stated at the beginning – get a good enemy and if you have none, find a way to make some. This comes with a warning: be careful of the way you go about making enemies - for you don’t want to pick the wrong enemy, or create one without any sort of planned desired outcome. If you must, learn to play the game, or totally ignore it at your own risk
an interesting concept...in this world, most people will find enemies in some part of their life. but you are right...can use enemies in your life to improve yourself.