Today we ask that you recognize the difference between power and force.
In this case, “force” can be viewed as using force to “make things happen” or “get what you want.”
Power, on the other hand, requires no force.
For example, a powerful idea is one that easily and naturally spreads among people, without “publicity” or “marketing.”
This is very different from propaganda, or marketing. Propaganda and marketing uses force to hammer concepts and beliefs into people’s minds — often concepts that are not true.
The core wisdom of the Buddha, or the Christ — those are powerful ideas. “Do unto others,” “Love thy neighbor” — these are powerful ideas.
Government propaganda promoting dictatorial regimes in Soviet Russia or Communist China — those are force-driven ideologies.
Marketing in the 1950’s that promoted the idea that “Smoking a particular brand of cigarettes is healthy for you” — that was a force-driven ideology.
Ultimately, as in Soviet Russia or with the healthy cigarettes, force-driven ideologies always collapse.
This is true at the macro and micro scale.
A truly powerful individual does not need to force his way on anyone.
People who use force to get what they want are not powerful. In fact, the use of force is an expression of powerlessness. No one is more powerless than a bully.
If you wish to stand in true power, you must let go of your belief in force.
This is a very hard lesson for people to grasp. That is because force appears to be effective. The person who screams and threatens and bullies often appears to prosper and get his way.
Beyond that, “making things happen at any cost” is considered strong and virtuous.
For example, many professional athletes have been known to use drugs to achieve goals. While technically illegal and frowned upon, society is quite hypocritical about these techniques, as athletes are lauded for superhuman achievements. It considered normal and virtuous that athletes should push their bodies past the bounds of health in order to achieve goals. Drug use follows logically from this belief.
This is because forcing and pushing are considered virtuous. “No pain, no gain,” goes the saying.
People must be forced to meet goals. You must force people to achieve. Children must be forced to behave and work hard in school.
This comes from a fundamentally negative belief system about human beings. Humans, left to their own devices, are shiftless and lazy and immoral. If you do not use force, civilization will collapse.
Such beliefs are often taken for granted, and not questioned.
But really, this belief is insane, and unnatural.
One does not use force to make a tree grow faster, to meet a tree-growth goal.
Then again, humans are bound to create genetically modified trees that they can force to grow faster to meet goals.
Never mind that such tampering can and does cause genetic damage and disease. Humans are already dealing with many unpleasant consequences of all their technological methods of “making things happen” and “getting what they want at any cost.”
Please understand that the use of force is harmful.
In fact, the use of force has a way of backfiring, every time.
It backfires for the professional athletes who take drugs. Even if they aren’t caught, they wreak havoc on their long-term health.
It backfires for dictatorial regimes. Though they may temporarily succeed, at great human cost, they never achieve the “Thousand Year Reich” they envision.
It backfires in offices, schools, and homes. It destroys relationships, and causes people to resent each other and feel violated. Worst of all, it trains children to grow into adults who spend their lives doing things because they “have to, or else.” The human spirit rebels at this. Many humans become physically and mentally ill because of this.
A powerful person always leads by example, and inspiration.
A powerful person does not scream at children, or subordinates. A powerful person does not resort to the use of carrots and sticks, rewards and punishments, however effective these tools may appear to be.
A powerful person inspires. That is how a powerful person motivates: through inspiration, not bullying, not guilt. A powerful person, by taking inspired actions, inspires others to do the same.
Of course, the first step to becoming a powerful person is to stop listening to the bully in your own mind. Stop forcing yourself to do things. Take action from a place of inspiration, not “I have to, or else.”
If you are someone who feels like you don’t have enough energy, know that the use of force is a great energy drain, an energy-waster.
Powerful action conserves energy. It is in alignment with the flow of the universe, and so draws from a limitless source.
Forceful action is not in alignment with the universe, and so draws from a limited source.
Forceful action may be equated with petroleum-based fuel.
Powerful action may be equated with solar fuel.
One is limited, and harmful. The other is limitless, and harmless.
Which sounds better to you?
wordfromthewell 