If not you, who?

Tyrant Charity.001I’ve made the argument that getting rid of government is a good idea, mainly because it is interested only in its self-preservation. I’ve also argued that traditional tools for sparking change—demonstrations opposing something and charismatic leaders leading the masses on a cause—are bygone tactics of a bygone era.

If this is all true, then what?

It’s simple: we need a better way to create change. I’ve already wrote about that in previous posts too.

So we have the method, the strategic approach. Next we need the tactical approach. We also need the people who are going to make it happen.

That’s where you come in. If charismatic leaders can no longer lead us to fundamental change, if overt mass demonstrations are impotent against those who rule, then there’s only one person left.

That’s right: you.

That doesn’t mean you have to do anything that will put your life at risk. It doesn’t mean you have to quit your job or leave your family. What it does mean: you taking a look at what is going on. Not in the world. In your head. You see, what’s going on in the world doesn’t matter much. I know, you probably believe what’s going on in the world is all that matters. Congrats. You’ve been well conditioned. But what’s going on in your head is way more important.

Among the way more important things going on in your head, the most important of those is how you see yourself. If you don’t see yourself as responsible for the world you’re experiencing, you are giving up your power to create the change you want to see. That’s a tough sentence to read and own it. Fact is, most of us are living our lives in exactly that way. Here are some helpful questions to consider. They will help clarify your perspective on just how much you give up your power to create the change you want to see:

  • Do you make personal sacrifices for your family, children, parents?
  • Are you aware that history as taught in school, religion as taught in church, values as passed on by your family, the importance of your work, your nationality, your ethnicity, your favorite sports team, celebrity, car, etc., may be tools used to keep you docile?
  • How much TV do you watch?
  • Of that TV time, how much do you spend watching the news?
  • Do you identify as one of these: Liberal, Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Left, Right?
  • If you identify with any of the camps above, how often do you make effort to understand those on the other side of the aisle?
  • Do you complain about those you disagree with as being responsible for the way the world is?
  • Do you believe reforms (election reform, campaign finance reform, finance reform, etc.) can have a meaningful difference on the way your society works?
  • Are you a “realist”?
  • Do you see the world as perfect the way it is, needing nothing to change?
  • Do you know your essential nature as eternal, worthy, influential and the central focus of the universe?

There are no right answers. If you seriously considered these questions as you read them, then you have already begun the essential process of becoming something more.

A new opportunity presented itself at the end of 2012. No, I’m not talking about any Mayan Calendar stuff. I’m talking about something much more profound. The opportunity is yours for the taking. Should you step forward, your life will become far more interesting, far more fun, far more empowering. We’ll explore this in a future post.

 

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