Recognize your power.

[IgnorantGod]

Crying makes life worth living...
there is a recognition there...

I think of it as fully being a witness of life.

But... that's just a me thing.

Yes, the 'me' thing. And 'me' + 'me' gives a 'meme', how 'bout that!

And then, what else could a 'me' do, except the 'me' thing?

 

Narcissist.

If "God is the universe and the universe is God" holds any 'truth' value, then God is a Narcissist.

[LightAngel]

If "God is the universe and the universe is God" holds any 'truth' value, then God is a Narcissist.

Nope.  

I think a true God gives free will.

And free will is the opposite of narcissism. 

[IgnorantGod]

Nope.  

I think a true God gives free will.

And free will is the opposite of narcissism. 

I'm not sure? I guess?

Care to elaborate on "free will is the opposite of narcissism"? Is it somewhat like being imprisoned by its 'love of oneself'?

I mean, aren't we 'imprisoned' by our own 'personal paradigm'?

I don't mind whether the end of the day is 'free will' or superdeterminism or a mix of both or it's 'turtles all the way down'. It certainly wouldn't change the fact that if I want to stay 'alive' I'll have to chop wood for the winter.

I stand by my statement that if 'everything' is ultimately 'God', then 'God' is a narcissist.

[Maxmars]

We may be, as I had once heard, from all possible self-identity searches...

A system of memories.

Which I always assumed to be a 'perspective' which embraces the limitations of 'self-analysis.'

Power, or 'potential' is a relative matter...
relative to the ideal application of reason or force.

Insofar as the common refrain "God is everything,"  or "God is everywhere;"
I think it is more appropriate to affirm that people "perceive" God in everything
(and perhaps ideally, at all times)...
it is a perspective of observation...
and thus relative anyway....
relative to our posture and willingness to 'move and act' as if we were orienteering towards greater comfort operating in the world we engender.

Just some extraneous thoughts in the vein of the OP....

[sahgwa]

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 can't argue with anything you've said.

People are being bullied pushed and dumbed down to 'need' Daddy Government, or even a Babysitting-Phone to tell them how to think and how to function.
It's all according to plan, and they use fear to make people dependent on others instead of themselves.
The moment you simply wake up and say , 'this is my life, time is very precious, and I DONT HAVE TIME to screw around doing what other people think, or being afraid' then it's 'game over' for the controllers.
Unfortunately, gaining this power is almost impossible for a lot of people.  They make excuses, they appeal to emotion/fear and never take the leap.  

I agree we need to all be self sufficient as sovereign and strong souls ,but HOW to wake other people up is very difficult.

[sahgwa]

this is a dumb statement

it is like telling a person who is in prison that they are only as imprisoned as they allow themselves to believe they are

the reason force and coercion are a thing is because force and coercion work

i suppose you can hallucinate anything you want though

but you don't get to call it reality and demand people agree

in fact attitudes like you have presented are one of the most pernicious set of chains because they make struggle intractable, offering only ways to attack one's self for improper attitude, rather than a lever for actually changing the world

I chose to view this in a psychological and perspective framework, not in a physical framework.
Because if you had the 'self knowledge' or 'power' then you would be able to avoid jail to begin with? 
Something like that. 
But yes I agree with giving less power to institutions that do nothing but abuse or use us, through 'opting out' 'no confidence' and not feeding them with money or attention.

[UltraBudgie]

I chose to view this in a psychological and perspective framework, not in a physical framework.
Because if you had the 'self knowledge' or 'power' then you would be able to avoid jail to begin with? 
Something like that. 
But yes I agree with giving less power to institutions that do nothing but abuse or use us, through 'opting out' 'no confidence' and not feeding them with money or attention.

well there is the lesson of job
which seems to have been that there is no way to clever yourself out of fate or escape the fall even through moral rectitude
i prefer to look at is as that is what we are all here to do
fall then get up then go
it seems to be the pattern

as to giving power to institution i've heard it called
services for sinners
i am too slothful to grow all my own food
i realize that but i still complain about quality but it blunts the edge
i am too attached to material things and do not live my life
like diogenese with only a bowl
so i am beholden to the money system somewhat
if i weren't i wouldn't be so i can't say its 'their fault'
i find credit cards more convenient than cash or barter
there are many many examples of this
they are what they are
as i am what am i
just down here in the dirt with the rest of the sinners

[sahgwa]

well there is the lesson of job
which seems to have been that there is no way to clever yourself out of fate or escape the fall even through moral rectitude
i prefer to look at is as that is what we are all here to do
fall then get up then go
it seems to be the pattern

as to giving power to institution i've heard it called
services for sinners
i am too slothful to grow all my own food
i realize that but i still complain about quality but it blunts the edge
i am too attached to material things and do not live my life
like diogenese with only a bowl
so i am beholden to the money system somewhat
if i weren't i wouldn't be so i can't say its 'their fault'
i find credit cards more convenient than cash or barter
there are many many examples of this
they are what they are
as i am what am i
just down here in the dirt with the rest of the sinners

I guess it's once again all a matter of perspective.
I think we are all divine and have no original sin.  We have merely to continually grow our compassion, our spirit, and elevate our frequency. To 'realise' , self realise our divinity. 
That said, you can use material , it's a tool, like your body, it's just part of the learning dance to not be enslaved by it and to only use it if it benefits you , not chains you. 
In other words, like you said, we have to make the most of what we are given and gifted. 
The material is not something to be shunned or renounced, it is to be used loved and transcended. 
In my little opinion.

[Ray1990]

well there is the lesson of job
which seems to have been that there is no way to clever yourself out of fate or escape the fall even through moral rectitude
i prefer to look at is as that is what we are all here to do
fall then get up then go
it seems to be the pattern

as to giving power to institution i've heard it called
services for sinners
i am too slothful to grow all my own food
i realize that but i still complain about quality but it blunts the edge
i am too attached to material things and do not live my life
like diogenese with only a bowl
so i am beholden to the money system somewhat
if i weren't i wouldn't be so i can't say its 'their fault'
i find credit cards more convenient than cash or barter
there are many many examples of this
they are what they are
as i am what am i
just down here in the dirt with the rest of the sinners

I love a bit of Diogenes, the man was clearly a nutter. Probably my favourite philosopher. Apparently he chucked that bowl away when he saw a kid scooping up water with his hands.

We do have all the tools at hand to live a successful life yet seeking comfort isn't sinful. The division of labour has it's application too and money does make the world go round... Therefore money is gravity 

Deface the money and you may fly budgie, you just might!

On a serious note though, power isn't always what we think it is. A kid getting a drink was evidently powerful to Diogenes but it's also one of the most basic necessities to life. Empowering people sometimes presents itself as a rude awakening akin to a massive slap in the face. Like dying from thirst when we all have water under our feet. We're all just waiting on a shovel, too delirious to realise the drink was always too deep for a lonely digger.

[LightAngel]

So many doors in your mind/soul will open up when you recognize your power and stop being controlled by your fear. 

When you stop letting fear dictate your choices, you don't suddenly become a different person.

Instead you actually become the version of yourself that's been waiting underneath all along. 

Hmm, I think I need to post another topic!