Two Ways
Human is created to have two essences. A person has good characters, potential and positive orientation. He/she also has unpleasant, damaging, unhealthy and bad nature. This is why human is known as 'alternate' creature.
The two dimensional characters always fight to influence a person's behavior. Qur'an often mentions that the tendency of a person to do bad deeds is stronger. It feels good to talk about others mistake. It seems so hard to donate just pences of our money.
We, of course, want to have positive soul, good nature and quality to lead us good, content and peaceful life. Environment around us gives intense influence to how we behave. The effectors can be our family, friends, neighbours, teachers, books, what we see, what we hear and even our diet.
The two contradictory spirits are reflected in our daily behaviour. Good soul is shown as a person who is good to Allah, people around him, environment and himself. In contrast, diabolic spirit is reflected in a mischievous and destructive person.
At the end we are all free to choose between the alternatives. But one must remember, as the Prophet Muhammad PBUH said: 'Do whatever you want in this life, but at the end you must be responsible for that'.
By Nafs [Adam or a person or a soul]
and Him who perfected him in portion.
Then He showed him what is wrong
and what is right for him. (Qur'an 91:7-8)