The Enemy Within: Confronting the Battles That Hold You Back

I recently started reading Calm Within the Storm by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe. In her introduction, she talks about the enemies we can see—the difficult boss, the chronic illness, the mounting credit card debt. These are tangible challenges, ones we can point to and blame. But she also speaks of a far more insidious enemy—the one we can’t see.

Our internal battles. The war within ourselves.

How do you win when victory requires a part of you to fall?

In movies, the “enemy from within” is often the downfall of even the most powerful empires. I was reminded of this while watching Gladiator 2 with my husband. Rome didn’t collapse solely because of external threats—it crumbled from the inside, brought down by corruption, betrayal, and fear.

We’ve all heard the phrase, You are your own worst enemy. But how often do we stop to ask if that’s really true for us? What if the biggest obstacle in our lives isn’t the external struggles we fixate on—but something deeper, something within?

Think about how many times you've resisted feedback because it hurt your ego. Even the greatest athletes, like Steph Curry, weren’t always great. There was a time when he was just an okay player. What changed? He embraced feedback, used it to evolve, and became the legend he is today.

When we’re young, we know we don’t know much. We’re open to learning, eager to take in feedback and grow. But as we gain experience, confidence settles in. And while confidence is valuable, it can also be a double-edged sword.

There are moments when criticism feels hard to accept—not because it’s wrong, but because our ego resists it. Of course, not all feedback is worth considering—who it comes from matters. If the source isn’t credible, it can be dismissed. But if we’re too quick to shut out perspectives that challenge us, are we really learning? Growth requires striking a delicate balance: filtering out the noise while staying open to wisdom.

This got me thinking about how our inner enemies shape our lives and future. I once heard a story about a woman who, in her 30s, was scammed out of $100,000 by a man she thought she loved. He took her money and disappeared, leaving her heartbroken and betrayed. Now, decades later, in her 60s, she still doesn’t trust anyone outside of her family. She has no close friends, no romantic relationships.

At first glance, this might seem like a choice. But is it really? Or is it fear—her own enemy within—holding her hostage?

I believe life is meant to be shared. But fear, ego, and past wounds—these invisible enemies—can quietly shape our decisions, keeping us from the experiences and growth we truly need.

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, caution and fear. The challenge is knowing which side you’re on—and having the wisdom to see it.

So I ask you: What’s your enemy from within? And more importantly—are you willing to face it?