Recognize your power.

[Maxmars]

People need to recognize their own power, so they need to stop acting like passengers and start acting like contributors. Because, and this is common sense, when people see themselves as passengers, they wait, they hope, they complain, but they never take action.

When people recognize their own power, they start shaping the direction instead of being carried by it.

Nobody control you, but you!

Even if there is a hidden group of people doing their best to control everybody, then they can't unless you let them.

Awareness breaks manipulation, so always remember that nobody controls you, but you!

We really need a psychological shift that changes how people relate to their own life, and communities.

What do you think?

LightAngel,

Firstly, I want to know that certain moderator tools have been ... troublesome of late...

I applaud your thread and I wants to say so.


Now... back on topic.


I felt myself a student of the answers you received and noted that "I didn't go there" as I read on... it made me consider your words directly... and while I wanted to answer along the lines of - or addressing - everything that has already been offered... I hesitated.

You inspired me differently.

I think we call it 'power'... but that is not what it is.

I see a stream rapidly flowing along, unceasing as gravity...
and we are that kind of fish...
who can sit in the stream with but a few flicks of a fin...
can remain motionless, move backwards, jet forwards, or seemingly be at rest...
all within a never-ending flow.

We 'could' call it power...
to move quickly, stop, or take whatever action we wish...
but it is not "our" power.

In the real world the only power lies before the choice to use it.
Intent sets the modality and energy of the choice... it's vibration, if you will.
But that's all theory.

None of us might ever have the luxury of navigating time forwards and backwards...
But each 'moment' can best be considered a choice...
It's easy to get lost in that morass of perception soup.

If I metaphorically accept power as a measure of a person's means of navigating reality,
then someone will 'meter' it.  Someone will subject it the hierarchical mandate of 'reason.'

They will apply "flavors to it" and "tell us" what that "means."

I think the word "power," as a metaphor, needs a 'leash.'

But, in a much larger sense, I welcome the idea that as largely "subjects" of a "media" education, within a consumption model... we must acknowledge that we have been repeatedly informed by almost every "production" we see... of just how stupid THEY say "people" are... (at every turn.)  It's a premier legacy meme propagated by hucksters.

Power is in seeing the "production' for it's "intended" purpose... and noting the "intent" clearly... accept it or not.

I think perhaps it is natural to consider the power is in the act, not the acts' purpose.

Instead of "power," I might think in terms of 'honest self-presence and control' which otherwise could be considered the outcomes of the power I thought you are referring to.

Needless to add... thank you.. as you might understand... I'm very interested in where I veered off your mark.

(And also, needless to say, I do apologize for the wall of text.)

[Sky727]

Exercise your power for what, an unverified belief or a story you have been feed from someone else. 
Power to push a button or press a trigger because someone told you to ?

Absolutely brilliant  post on "X" https://x.com/Zigmanfreud/status/2017391511936373071

[Karl12]

People need to recognize their own power

Yes they certainly do - 'courting victimhood' seems to be a national sport these days and this indoctrinated mindset leaves folks incredibly impotent and 'powerless'.

It's a very short video but this lady hits the nail on the head by simply saying 'we are much more powerful than we think we are'.

Perhaps that's why subversive 'think tanks' like the Tavistock Institute are so desperate to push 'learned helplessness' and promote shallow, narcissistic tendencies in the youth.

The man also coins a nice phrase when calling for potential slaves to absolutely 'saturate the system with non compliance'.

[Britseye]

The last 2 pages have been a great read, guys. Thanks to all who posted. Sky, this is the second video you've posted today that has also landed in my feed in the past few days, it's an absolute cracker of a satire! 

[Maxmars]

As I ponder the ideas... the OP proposition, and I think about what it is that "power" as a metaphor for "choice" represents... it calls for freedom... unconstrained liberty (or at least 'less' circumstantial constraint.)

And when those "align," the 'choice' gains merit, or standing... as a "message."

If everyone agreed that we want out fire hydrants painted with a yellow and black checkerboard pattern... would that be a "message" to someone?  Would it have "power?"

Somehow, people seem to 'withdraw' from engaging in publicly uttering 'messages' because to do so is to 'expose' oneself to the inevitable resistance all human ideas must overcome... reason... and people loathe to discover that they themselves have been unreasonable... or worse... ignorant.

Power is, I think, in some context... the juxtaposition of personal choice and the 'plan' of action to realize it.

Sorry if this seems a reiteration... but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to explore this...

[IgnorantGod]

[...]

Somehow, people seem to 'withdraw' from engaging in publicly uttering 'messages' because to do so is to 'expose' oneself to the inevitable resistance all human ideas must overcome... reason... and people loathe to discover that they themselves have been unreasonable... or worse... ignorant.

Power is, I think, in some context... the juxtaposition of personal choice and the 'plan' of action to realize it.

Sorry if this seems a reiteration... but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to explore this...

It may be that what is loathed isn't particularly ignorance rather than uncertainty. For such often brings discomfort somehow. I heard more than once from people that they can't 'go on' without some certitudes. As for my'self', I'm not sure? Maybe once 'I' can 'measure' such?

Maybe the 'elaboration' of 'plans' is one of the 'basic' function of consciousness? Being able to 'communicate' the 'plan' to the body, henceforth permorfing the 'act'. Bringing a kind of resonance from the fields on different 'layers' of 'existence', i.e. the body and the organs composing it for example. And/or the cells composing the tissues, etc.

[quintessentone]

People need to recognize their own power, so they need to stop acting like passengers and start acting like contributors. Because, and this is common sense, when people see themselves as passengers, they wait, they hope, they complain, but they never take action.

When people recognize their own power, they start shaping the direction instead of being carried by it.

Nobody control you, but you!

Even if there is a hidden group of people doing their best to control everybody, then they can't unless you let them.

Awareness breaks manipulation, so always remember that nobody controls you, but you!

We really need a psychological shift that changes how people relate to their own life, and communities.

What do you think?

I believe that a paradigm shift is happening right now with some of the younger generations, what with their shifting digital and influential presence reaching more people worldwide.

As for a psychological shift, that comes only if one has the means necessary to find they have a desire and free time to actually go down that road after working long hours and paying the bills, then and only then, does the road present itself for most people.

Daily struggles can control us and tire us out so much so that all we want to do is rest and not think any more. It's a vicious circle for those of us who live in worry and stress daily. Some just sink into apathy and say they will just worry about their own lives and those in their orbits that they care about and perhaps that is all they can do as not everyone is capable of change and/or enacting change. 

Although, collectively, people will always have the power to enact change and it is just finding out where to put the spear in which Achille's heel that will do the trick.

-----------

"Younger Generations Are Driving a Paradigm Shift Across Society
 The younger generation—particularly Millennials (born 1981–1996) and Gen Z (born 1995–2010)—is redefining core aspects of modern life, from work and finance to values and activism. 
Workplace and Work-Life Expectations

• Younger workers prioritize flexibility, purpose, and well-being over traditional seniority. 
  
• 77% of Millennials and 66% of Gen Z value flexible work schedules, with many preferring hybrid or remote options. 
  
• They spend significantly more time on learning and socializing (12% of their workweek) compared to older generations, valuing community and growth. 
  
• The office is seen as a space for focus and connection, not just presence—favoring amenity-rich, hospitality-style environments that support collaboration and mental health. 
  

Financial and Investment Behavior

• A paradigm shift in investing is underway: 56% of Millennials and 47% of Gen Z include cryptocurrency in their strategy. 
  
• Over 60% of Gen Z say social media influences their financial decisions. 
  
• 66.5% of Millennials and 50% of Gen Z value AI-driven investment advice. 
  
• Nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials have inherited wealth (45.7% and 46.5% respectively), creating a major impending wealth transfer to younger investors. 
  

Values and Activism

• Younger generations are redefining success—not as wealth accumulation, but as holistic well-being and purpose. 
  
• They are deeply engaged in sustainability and social justice, with 62% anxious about climate change and 45% reporting it affects daily functioning. 
  
• Teenage innovation is a new form of activism: platforms like The Earth Prize empower youth to develop real-world solutions to local and global challenges (e.g., flood prediction, water recycling, sustainable farming). 
  

Cultural and Technological Engagement

• They engage with technology as a tool for activism, identity, and community, not just convenience. 
  
• Conscious consumerism is rising—shifting toward plant-based diets, sustainable fashion, and ethical brands. 
  
• They trust influencers over brands, reflecting a move from institutional authority to peer-driven credibility.
  

This generational shift is not just a trend—it's a fundamental reorientation of values, behaviors, and systems.  Organizations and institutions that adapt to these new norms will thrive; those that resist risk becoming obsolete. " (LLM) https://www.core.co.uk/blog/millennials-...d-interact

---------

Does that leave the Boomer and hippie generation with the desire and time to hold those protest signs and march down those other roads for change?

[Maxmars]

I believe that a paradigm shift is happening right now with some of the younger generations, what with their shifting digital and influential presence reaching more people worldwide.

As for a psychological shift, that comes only if one has the means necessary to find they have a desire and free time to actually go down that road after working long hours and paying the bills, then and only then, does the road present itself for most people.

Daily struggles can control us and tire us out so much so that all we want to do is rest and not think any more. It's a vicious circle for those of us who live in worry and stress daily. Some just sink into apathy and say they will just worry about their own lives and those in their orbits that they care about and perhaps that is all they can do as not everyone is capable of change and/or enacting change. 

Although, collectively, people will always have the power to enact change and it is just finding out where to put the spear in which Achille's heel that will do the trick.

-----------

"Younger Generations Are Driving a Paradigm Shift Across Society
 The younger generation—particularly Millennials (born 1981–1996) and Gen Z (born 1995–2010)—is redefining core aspects of modern life, from work and finance to values and activism. 
Workplace and Work-Life Expectations

...

• This generational shift is not just a trend—it's a fundamental reorientation of values, behaviors, and systems.  Organizations and institutions that adapt to these new norms will thrive; those that resist risk becoming obsolete. " (LLM) https://www.core.co.uk/blog/millennials-...d-interact
  

---------

Does that leave the Boomer and hippie generation with the desire and time to hold those protest signs and march down those other roads for change?

I appreciate the time and effort that the output of the LLM suggests...

It means to me that among all the collected utterances within the Internet (or segment of training data)...
It has been expressed,, with enough frequency, and so cohesively, that it can "say" this as "fact."

It shows an appearance - assuming we can trust the data output is not somehow 'crafted algorithmically' to provide this response.  Or that the 'training data set' is not somehow "weighted" by exclusion, or "inclusion" of algorithmically driven results... or that the output isn't "pre-canned" for certain inputs....

(intelligent it is not!)

Those generation are distinctly 'dis-aligned.'

Is it by some communal peer-group reasoning?  I just can't accept that it is an "organic" concept.  LLMs seem to synthesize these observations exclusively from what is "reported." 

Remember history?  LLM's don't.

I think we rather should approach this from a more core perspective...

Regardless of when you were born, or even who you are.... we are all people... (at least for now.) 

Similarities are not a correlation of age, but of temporal and environmental circumstance.

These are the first generations for whom "Television" played no role in "entertainment."

Of course their focus of value and definition of virtue will present itself as brutishly ignorant ... but they are younger...

and my generation was probably the first to openly recognize that we had all been subject to someone else's "big play."  We grew up being silenced.

They did not.

Every bad road they travel is the "Internet's" fault.

[quintessentone]

LLM can only collect what is out there in reply to any given specific question, which is, to me, just the carrot to lead you down other paths of research if you so choose. As I so choose.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/...usinesses/

(LLM collected data) -

"From Silent Gen to Gen Z - which U.S. generation has the most cultural power and influence?Visual Capitalist's Generational Power Index Report 2021 shows that Generation X wield the most cultural power in the U.S.
 

---

• Visual Capitalist's Generational Power Index Report 2021 uncovers which generation in the U.S. wields the most cultural power and influence.
  
• It found that Gen X captures the largest share of cultural power.
  
• Gen X is particularly dominant in the film and TV industry, with roughly 50% of Oscar winners in 2020 being Gen X.
  
• Over half of America’s largest news corporations have a Gen X CEO.
  
• Baby Boomers have particular dominance in traditional entertainment, as 42% of the authors on the NYT’s best-sellers list were Baby Boomers."
  

--------

What seems believable?

Imagine if we all got together to throw around each others' power in each others' respective cultural corner.

[cherokeetroy]

My simplified understanding is

My frequent pattern of thought/behavior becomes my frequency 

My frequency is my identity 

My identity reflects my reality