Today’s Thought of the Day and Question of the Day venture into the shadows—literally. We’re exploring what drives the monsters we face (real or imagined) and what our own shadow might reveal if it suddenly had something to say. This post blends a bit of psychology, a pinch of humor, and a healthy scoop of self-reflection. So let’s turn toward the darkness… and see what blinks back.
Thought of the Day: Every monster has a mastermind.
The thing about monsters is—they don’t just appear. They’re built. Shaped. Fed. And they rarely operate alone.
Sure, we love a good story where the monster is this isolated beast, snarling from the shadows, defeated by one brave soul. But in real life? Monsters have networks. Monsters have publicists. Monsters have investors, cheerleaders, voters, followers, or at the very least—people who look away while the damage gets done.
Every monster has a mastermind.
That includes the ones inside us. Maybe especially those.
I used to think the worst parts of myself—the procrastination, the anger, the fear—just showed up uninvited. But over time, I realized I was often the one handing them the mic. I fed them. I justified them. I let them take the wheel because they promised control. Or comfort. Or that sweet, sweet dopamine hit of delay.
My procrastination doesn’t wear a cape and fangs—it wears a rational tone and holds a to-do list it never plans to finish. My self-doubt doesn’t growl—it whispers something just slightly believable. These are my monsters, but I’m often the mastermind. Or at the very least, the co-conspirator.
And then there are the monsters out there—the ones we all see. Dictators. Abusers. Cult leaders. Corporate tyrants. The people who destroy communities, families, countries, and walk away richer for it. We like to imagine them as uniquely evil, but if you zoom out, you’ll see the cast of supporting characters: the ones who say nothing, the ones who profit, the ones who enable and excuse and benefit from the wreckage.
Harvey Weinstein didn’t act alone. Hitler didn’t act alone. Social media algorithms that polarize us, industries that exploit workers, companies that destroy the environment—it’s never just one bad apple. It’s orchards. It’s supply chains. It’s people who saw the monster forming and said, “Well, I mean, it’s not my* problem.”*
And that’s the uncomfortable part. Monsters don’t live in silos. They live in systems. They live in relationships. And more often than not, they survive by convincing the rest of us to stay silent, stay scared, or stay entertained.
So the question becomes—are we feeding them? Or are we starving them?
If this is hitting close to home (I’m right there with you), I’d recommend this one about what parts of your life are circling the drain.
Because some days, confronting your monsters is the bravest thing you’ll do.
And other days, realizing you’ve been the mastermind? That’s even braver.
Question of the Day: If your shadow had a personality of its own, what would it be like?
Honestly? I think mine would be a little smug.
My shadow would probably mutter things under its breath. Raise a judgmental eyebrow (do shadows have eyebrows?). It would keep score even when I say I’m letting things go. It would dance when I trip. Not out of malice—just out of pure, gleeful honesty.
But here’s the deeper question: what does your shadow really reveal?
In Jungian psychology, the “shadow” isn’t just a dark blob on the ground—it’s the part of ourselves we keep hidden. The impulses we deny. The traits we disown. The stuff we’d rather other people didn’t see. It’s our unposted drafts, our unsent texts, our late-night thoughts we never say out loud.
If my shadow had a personality, it wouldn’t just be snarky. It would be honest. It would remember things I try to forget. It would carry every version of me I’ve tried to outgrow—and remind me that those versions still want a seat at the table.
Some days, that’s comforting. Other days, it’s uncomfortable as hell.
But maybe that’s the point. If you can learn to live with your shadow—to listen to it without letting it drive—you might actually understand yourself a whole lot better.
If you enjoy questions that walk the line between funny and existential, check out this post about meeting the person you could have been or this one about what feels scary at 3 AM but normal at 3 PM. Shadow territory, both of them.
Share your answer (and maybe your shadow’s too)
What kind of personality does your shadow have? Do your monsters have masterminds—or just really good branding?
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