UNDERSTANDING ESSENCE AND FRAGURANCE OF GOD IS THE FOUNDATION OF INDIVIDUAL SELF-ESTEEM…
November 6, 2022
Before I get into this topic, I need to address one of my recurring themes: equal human rights and how we must adjust the tracks of our evolution to keep up with the speeding train of modern times. I want to discuss the protests in Iran. While I don’t like to get political, I find that my hands are tied. It’s nearly impossible to talk about spiritual matters without acknowledging the political injustices that come with them. I try to keep my opinions grounded in spiritual principles, but as human beings, we belong to various groups—gender, community, nation, and religion—which overwhelmingly promote the politics of belonging. This is an unavoidable reality.
We cannot live or govern human communities without political systems, and I respect that politics has its place. However, as individuals, we must prioritize justice and spirituality over group politics. If we don’t, injustice, prejudice, and discrimination will continue to dominate the world. I believe that if we, as individuals, commit to justice, we can compel the groups we belong to do the same. Unfortunately, the state of the world shows that we are still struggling with the same issues that plagued us in the past, largely because of our individual weaknesses.
Despite all our progress, humanity continues to suffer from spiritual ills. Compassion is often overshadowed by political allegiances. We have countless religions with millennia of spiritual teachings, but they have failed to transcend the politics of belonging. In fact, many religious systems encourage individuals to blindly follow their group, regardless of the political context. They allow the politics of belonging to strip religion of its spirituality. Since I believe spirituality and justice are intertwined, my writings focus on physical and honest truths. Prioritizing metaphorical realities over someone’s physical existence has been the root of many human disputes.
Interestingly, many religious beliefs have strayed from their spiritual foundations, clinging instead to the politics of belonging. They wield God and the Devil as tools of political power, rather than guiding people toward spiritual growth. Always remember: religious beliefs are meant to be spiritual systems that support individuals in their daily lives. No one should have the power to rob others of their basic rights and liberties—especially not in the name of God.
If you advocate for a conservative constitution, you are entitled to that, as long as it doesn’t lead to injustice against individuals, especially under the guise of religion. Violating people’s rights in the name of political agendas not only harms individuals but also tarnishes the name of God. To me, that is an injustice against God and a spiritual sin. If a nation wishes to uphold a conservative constitution, it must still grapple with today’s realities, such as equal human rights and spiritual justice. The world is changing faster than ever before. You only need to look around to see the evidence. Successful melting-pot societies thrive because they enshrine equal human rights in their constitutions.
Political systems that offer equal rights have proven to be more effective than other forms of government, such as monarchies, dictatorships, communism, socialism, or theocratic rule. These systems have historically failed humanity by not only bringing death and destruction but also robbing individuals of their spiritual rights. Despite its imperfections, democracy remains the governing system closest to spirituality because it is based on equality.
We may look and feel different on the outside, but what keeps us alive is the same. If you breathe oxygen, were born to human parents, and experience hunger, thirst, sickness, aging, joy, pain, and emotional hurt, you are a human being, just like everyone else. Spirituality is the common thread within all of us. It upholds individual freedom while allowing for disputes to be resolved through reason, as in a court of law, rather than through dictatorial edicts.
Religious beliefs, however, often leave no room for debate. They are dominated by traditions, customs, rituals, and rules that are enforced upon everyone to follow blindly. But as evolutionary beings, we can’t be confined within rigid boundaries. Differences of opinion are inevitable. Our ancient social structures are like curvy rail tracks built for slow trains, but today’s fast-paced world requires straighter, more modern tracks. Without them, individual and collective progress will derail, especially for those born into modern societies but forced to follow outdated rules. The situations in Afghanistan and Iran are prime examples of this dilemma.
This tug-of-war is not exclusive to developing nations. Even developed countries like the United States are grappling with the same issues. In today’s internet-driven world, societies—especially those with younger populations—cannot be slowed down. They must modernize their systems, or they risk being torn apart. Look at Saudi Arabia, one of the most conservative societies in the world. Even they are adapting to the changing times.
When individuals who are stuck in the past lead their societies, the results can be disastrous. People will not only disrespect those who believe differently but also disregard the law in favor of their religious beliefs. This disrespect, in turn, leads others to disrespect religious beliefs, even God. So, who is responsible for this chaos? I believe both sides are innocent. They simply need to learn how to evolve with the times.
In today’s world, there must be room for change. Unfortunately, many religions don’t leave room for evolution. As a result, they lose followers, even those who would otherwise be devoted believers. This “brain drain” often leads to a loss of respect for both religious beliefs and God. Governments that fail to modernize their systems will inevitably fall back on religion as a political tool. And if a political system is based on metaphorical realities, it cannot provide justice for all. That removes it from the realm of spirituality.
Believing in conservatism is one thing, but being rigid and resistant to evolution is authoritarianism. The first rule of spirituality is to address this mismatch. We cannot allow our societies and individuals to remain stuck in the past. Disregarding progress has nothing to do with religious beliefs or God—it’s about clinging to power.
Remember, all human beings are evolving, and that is part of God’s design. No religion can stop that. Today, the imbalance between evolution and tradition could lead humanity toward self-destruction, especially when raw, untamed emotions are mixed with weapons of mass destruction.
Having a belief system to guide a moral and comfortable life should be a personal and private matter. Organized religion has not succeeded in this regard. The crime rate of a society is a direct measure of its moral success. Societies with the lowest crime rates are often the least religious, which says a lot about the changing times. To achieve self-regulation, one must understand spiritual principles, not rigid religious rules.
We must evolve and embrace the new spiritual trends of humanity, such as democracy and equal human rights. If your religious beliefs promote bigotry, prejudice, or discrimination, it’s time to embrace modern-day spirituality. You can still maintain your religious beliefs, but in today’s world, no one wants to be labeled a bigot. Those days are over.
Preaching about making decisions for a personally successful life is not the responsibility of religions or governing authorities; it is an individual responsibility. Demanding that everyone around you should believe the same way is purely political. If you dig deeper, you’ll find that God and spirituality have nothing to do with it. When you mix politics with belief systems, you not only lose your personal sense of spirituality but also begin to use God and spirituality for political purposes. This often leads to the dangerous belief that God is a prejudiced and discriminatory entity. To me, this is equivalent to robbing God and spirituality of their respect.
When religious beliefs are used as political systems, bigotry, prejudice, and injustice inevitably follow. If God is the foundation of such injustice, God is unfairly labeled as prejudiced. Following religious extremism doesn’t do any favors to God. When an individual is harmed, hurt, or disrespected by your actions, they may lose faith in religion and even in God. This is the consequence of the politics of belonging, and it’s no wonder that people are losing respect for their religions and defying their rules. Personally, I believe injustice cannot be connected to God because, according to spirituality, God is not for some but for all. God is neutral, and it is up to us to convert spirituality into physical actions—or risk committing spiritual crimes.
Just look around the world and see how God and religious beliefs have been, and still are, used for political purposes. From Brazil to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and even America, wherever religion is used politically, the ordinary individual suffers. Since religions have been politically bought and sold without their spiritual content, people are left spiritually confused. Instead of standing by the poor, sick, hungry, and vulnerable with compassion, religious people often stand against spirituality and justice. Many vote against universal healthcare or welfare systems, yet the spirituality of all religions calls for compassion and helping those in need. How can so-called “Godly” people oppose helping the needy, who are praying to God for help?
If you critically and logically assess humanity, we are meant to be God’s working hands, converting spirituality into physical actions. Yet, when politics of belonging take over, people shamelessly use God and their religion to do the opposite—they are, in essence, doing the devil’s work in the name of God. Modern-day politicians have convinced people to sell their spiritual principles for political gain. If you cannot stand on your own and make your own choices, you have been brainwashed. God created you to be the CEO of your own life, genetically designed to be an independent spiritual entity—a kind of mini-God. Don’t believe me? Start looking at yourself as a complete human being and dig within. You’ll discover a universe within yourself, wrapped in your real identity. Break out of the political shells you’ve been encased in.
The politics of belonging to groups is one of the main culprits. Whether it’s race, color, gender, nation, or religion, if you can put these influences aside, you’ll find the true human being buried underneath. Only then can you meet the real you. Then, explore what you are made of. You carry your own “atom of autonomy,” which makes you a mini-God capable of making choices, unlike other animals.
Believe in your own atom of autonomy to become the CEO of your life. In today’s world, we all have tremendous responsibilities. We can’t just be part of a political group and lose our personal identity. Since our individual importance and relevance are at stake, we must understand our standing in the larger scheme of life. Remember, issues like self-respect and self-esteem are deeply connected to the health of our spiritual side. If you take charge of your life with a healthy dose of spirituality, you can’t go wrong. Relying on your group to make decisions for you is one thing, but disrespecting your own free will, self-respect, and self-esteem is another. Political groups will rob you of your individual relevance and self-esteem whenever they can because a stronger you is a threat to their control. A weaker, more vulnerable you, however, is an asset to the few in power. This reduces you to a mere puppet, a cog in the machine.
Remember, you are designed to be a whole machine, not a spare part. So, don’t rip yourself off of your personal importance, relevance, and self-esteem. Sure, we are dependent on others in our early years and cannot function alone, but as we grow, it is our responsibility to take charge of our lives.
Your physical body may come and go, but what moves you as a person, what animates you from birth to death, is your true self. We should not confuse metaphorical realities with physical realities. Believing in something metaphorically does not mean rejecting it entirely. As human beings, we are always evolving, and our learning is limitless. As we learn something new, we create more brain neurons, so logically, we don’t have caps or limits as conservative or religious authorities might have us believe.
Our imagination belongs to the realm of metaphorical reality, and much of human progress comes from that. Without a functioning spiritual side, life is reduced to mere physical existence. Spiritual fulfillment is essential to experiencing real happiness and contentment. Scientific or physical realities may guide our actions, but they cannot replace the deeper spiritual joy that comes from helping others or saving lives. Without this, life becomes a failed experience.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” may be true for our physical bodies, but spiritually, there is a different story. We all experience doubts, and instead of following the political ambitions of our belonging groups, we should come down to earth and live in the present. We owe nothing to anyone, including God, except to live responsibly. What are you doing for God in return for the life you’ve been given?
You cannot live for what was or what will be because both are not physical realities. All we have are our present moments where we can make a difference. Life has never been about what was or will be; it has always been about our living years. As individuals, we must act like CEOs, reading the politics behind social conformity. If you find yourself committing extreme actions in the name of your group, you are no different than a worker bee following hormonal impulses.
As human beings, we are born into an era of equal rights, and it is our responsibility to rise above our political and physical influences. If we live only physically, our spiritual side shrinks, no matter our religion, race, or gender. You are born with an atom of autonomy, and it is up to you to nurture and feed your spiritual side.
Time is running out for all of us. Remove the politics of belonging from your belief systems before it’s too late. We are not just physical beings—we are whole human beings with spiritual dimensions. To become a complete human being, we must understand both our physical and spiritual influences.
Since I don’t view the ego as something simple or easily understood, I see it as a double-edged sword. I believe that God’s good work is carried out through an individual’s physicality. In other words, you must put in real effort to get what you want—meaning you need to physically take action before asking for God’s help. Even Allama Iqbal said, and I quote:
“KHUDI KO KAR BULAND ITANA KAY HER TUQDEER SAY PEHLAY, KHUDA BUNDAY SAY KHUD POOCHAY, BTAA TARY RAZA KIYA HAY.”
“BRING YOUR EGO TO SUCH HEIGHTS THAT, BEFORE WRITING YOUR FATE, GOD COMES DOWN TO CONSULT YOU”… END QUOTE.
If our physicality is that important, we should maintain self-respect and self-esteem as human beings. Yes, we are mortal and dependent on God for oxygen and life-giving circumstances, but at the same time, we are the ones who translate spirituality into physical action. As I said, we give life to good through our choices, driven by our spiritual side. If you believe your existence is purely physical, you’ll likely adhere to the “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” view. But with our “atom of autonomy”—our spiritual side—we transcend that. Yes, the body returns to dust, but our autonomy suggests that we are more than just dirt; we are like beautiful flowers that bloom, spreading beauty and fragrance regardless of how short the bloom lasts. Just as a flower blossoms and brings joy, we come into the world to spread what God has blessed us with.
The idea that we are irrelevant might seem noble, but it is fundamentally wrong and politically motivated. It’s been designed to strip individuals of their self-importance, self-respect, and self-esteem. When someone is weak and vulnerable, they seek strength from belonging to groups and may even believe that all power lies within those groups. Yet, these groups depend on individual physicality just as much as God does. This is why religious societies often have higher crime rates than secular ones. The “ego of I” has never worked alone—we all depend on things like oxygen, favorable circumstances, and a healthy body, which are completely out of our control. So, we don’t work alone. There is a direct connection between God and the individual, allowing things to be accomplished physically.
If we view ourselves as purely physical entities, we align ourselves with other creatures. However, our spiritual side has been undermined by political religions for a reason. Humanity thrives because every job involves individuals helping each other. Yes, we get paid, but others help us along the way. So, the ego associated with “I” should be understood and respected by all of us. As individuals, we physically fulfill each other’s prayers. Think about it: what happens to God and the devil if human beings don’t exist? Without us, good and bad things wouldn’t happen because there would be no one to benefit from or suffer from them.
We are all taught pictures of life because we are all raised in different schools of thought. What happens after death is a mystery that no one has been able to explain in physical terms. Therefore, we have to accept and believe in these pictures, even though they belong to the realm of assumptions. Remember, we all have to die to find out what happens after death. The education we receive from our groups may seem real, but they all belong to a metaphorical zone and can’t be explained physically. Real, tangible life happens only during our living years. You may believe in heaven and hell or a carrot-and-stick philosophy, but that is political. To keep people in line, fear and greed are often tied to religion, but self-regulation should stem from a love of God and a deep understanding of our humanity.
Without physicality, things don’t work well, so it’s crucial to understand that a prayer must be physically fulfilled to be meaningful. Learning the business of mortal life is essential. If a flower blooms and then vanishes, it doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. It carries wisdom. Flowers can teach us about our mortality—they bloom without worrying about how long they will last. Similarly, we should stop worrying about the past or the future and focus on the present. Spread your fragrance and beauty, regardless of your mortality. You are the most important part of this holy picture because, without you, nothing meaningful can happen physically. Even God can be lost if human beings aren’t there to physically fulfill each other’s prayers.
If a flower doesn’t understand its own beauty, it disrespects itself. The same goes for human beings. If we think we came from dirt, are dirt, and will return to dirt, I strongly oppose that. We each carry a Godly essence and spiritual beauty. As beings with autonomy, we have a spiritual side that should be appreciated by our own eyes. Our importance, relevance, self-respect, and self-esteem have been and will continue to be the foundation of both spiritual and physical human evolution. We are often taught to disrespect ourselves and others because of group politics, which calls for this for the sake of political control.
In terms of evolution, we must always keep our mortality in mind. If you get caught in the race for success, you might forget your limited time. Our evolution must be in rhythm not only with ourselves individually but in balance with all aspects of life. For instance, to become a good person, you must control your animal desires and evolve spiritually. Similarly, you must control your evolutionary drive as well. As mortal beings, we know our time is limited, so while it may seem natural to pursue endless growth, we must balance that pursuit with the knowledge of our mortality. Blindly following this evolutionary drive can lead to discontentment.
Happiness and contentment don’t always mix well with the knowledge of our mortality, but the responsibility still falls on our mortal shoulders. No matter how far you climb in life, if you don’t address your genetic urges, you may end up feeling that nothing is enough. Understanding and mastering these urges is crucial to collecting the treasures that are meant for you in this life. You must not only control your animal desires but also harness your evolutionary urges to become a balanced human being. You must overcome both personal and political influences and embrace spiritual truth to understand the physical and political forces around you. These influences have shaped you since childhood, impacting not only your mind but also your endocrine system. It’s not easy to rise above them, but if you are honest with yourself, you can overcome them.
Start by questioning yourself, then move on to question your politics of belonging to groups, humanity as a whole, your religious leaders, and even your relationship with God. It can be confusing, but as long as you remain spiritually honest, you won’t get lost in half-truths or incomplete knowledge.
How Have Spiritual Systems Like Religions Lost Their Credibility in Today’s World?
When a concept like equal human rights emerges, the need for unbiased justice becomes overwhelmingly clear. So, where did things go wrong? The answer lies in the fusion of politics with spiritual systems, which taints even the best that humanity has to offer. For thousands of years, we’ve been killing each other, and this is because we made a fundamental mistake: we diminished the individual, rendering the human being irrelevant within our holy frameworks and political structures. Even the most educated among us avoid asking these difficult questions.
Politically, we’ve removed the individual from their rightful place and instead elevated God, the Devil, and Big Brother as the primary forces of power. In doing so, we’ve stripped religion of its spirituality and governing systems of their justice. Yet, logically, God, the Devil, and Big Brother cannot function unless individuals convert their desires into physical actions. Imagine if there were no people—what would happen to our towns, to humanity, Big Brother, God, and the Devil?
If spirituality cannot be converted into physical actions, neither good nor bad can take a meaningful or physical form. God and the spiritual realm, aside from Big Brother, cannot be labeled as politically biased, prejudiced, or unjust. When you tie your political biases to God and present them as spiritual truth, you commit a spiritual crime. You imply that God is biased, but God cannot be for some and not for all.
Think of the human body as a metaphor: it cannot discriminate against its own cells, no matter which organ they belong to. The problem isn’t with God, humanity, or spirituality—it’s with the politics of group belonging. Politics strips individuals of their free will and diminishes their value, even in their own eyes. As a result, believers who try to control everything are, in effect, thinking for God. If you truly believe that God is all-knowing and all-powerful, then why resist humanity’s progress?
Our belief systems were meant to be the medicine for our souls, but the politics of belonging have turned them into poison. Instead of benefiting from our faith, we go to war over it. If you believe that God is in control, then look around—see the progress humanity has made. This should open your spiritual eyes to the fact that God’s will is involved in every action of the individual and in humanity’s evolution.
Religious people often claim that humans are responsible for everything, yet they simultaneously believe that God is in control. Why do they hold this contradictory belief? In reality, a person’s very breath is beyond their control. To me, God and the individual are like two wires needed to light up a bulb—you can’t illuminate anything with just one wire.
If you believe that evolution is godless, then you’re living in darkness, unable to see the contributions of human beings to God’s plans. Yet, many still argue that medical advancements like blood transfusions, artificial insemination, and stem cell research are wrong and godless. At the same time, some get stuck in the pursuit of scientific knowledge, mistaking the stream for the ocean of ultimate truth. Without experiencing the untarnished joy of love and bravery that comes from having a belief system, we lose the ability to transcend the limitations imposed by our mortality.
The importance of balancing different streams of knowledge is crucial for us mortals. By obsessively focusing on empirical facts alone, we rob ourselves of the joy, happiness, and contentment that life offers, especially as we age. Our evolution is connected to knowledge, so if you confine yourself within rigid boundaries of thought, you’re not truly following God’s plan. Remember, all boundaries are human-made, designed for political control.
God created us like an ocean or space, infinite yet encapsulated in a single drop. But political religions and governing systems want to confine the individual within prescribed limits. Humanity has always resisted these boundaries, defying them through every significant human achievement, from blood transfusions to stem cell research. Yet, throughout history, religions have cast blame, even going so far as to throw virgins over cliffs to appease God.
Today, countries like Iran continue to perpetuate the same ideology, killing innocent people. America isn’t without fault either, grappling with issues like racism, abortion, and immigration—problems rooted in group politics, not individual spirituality. Collectively, we remain unhappy and controlling due to our individual insecurities and disbelief in God. This discontent stems from our desire for control, an affliction rooted in group politics.
Let’s take a moment to consider life on a personal level. No matter what anyone says, none of us truly know what happens before or after death. So, everything related to that knowledge remains metaphorical. Logically, we should appreciate the opportunity to live and experience life physically. Life is meant to be lived individually, with whatever circumstances we’ve been given. Like a flower, we should bloom and give what we have, regardless of the challenges or limitations of mortality.
Now, imagine this scenario: you’re driving in your nice car, feeling down after a breakup, and you pass a homeless person begging for change. You ignore them, missing a moment of spiritual teaching. This behavior reveals a need for control, which ultimately robs you of happiness and contentment. You may live as you please, but to me, that would be a life lived unsuccessfully. A life without happiness and contentment is a hollow experience. If you’re a scientist stuck in a lab without ever experiencing love, joy, or contentment, you may die educated, but not wise.
If you see someone in a wheelchair laughing joyfully, they are teaching you something not found in books but written between the lines of life itself. Yet, you remain blind to it because you’re focused on controlling your life as if it will last forever. You fail to appreciate what you have because you want things to be the way you envision them. Ask a billionaire on their deathbed if they truly appreciated their blessings.
Yes, life comes with risks, and you can get hurt stepping outside your boundaries. But remember, you can also get hurt in your own home, like Nancy Pelosi’s husband during a home invasion, or like Ukrainians during a national invasion. Sickness can strike from within, as it did with Steve Jobs. The point is, life must be lived as it comes, in whatever era and circumstances you find yourself. Collect every bit of love, happiness, and contentment along the way—don’t let fear or the control imposed by group politics freeze you.
If you make your life smaller than it is, you’re only hurting yourself. So, don’t forget to bloom like that flower—spread your fragrance and beauty as you were meant to, regardless of your mortality. As an individual, if you were raised to control, that may not be your fault, but as an adult, you are responsible for all aspects of your life, like the CEO of your personal journey. That’s what you’ve been prepared for, so take charge of your life and learn to balance all the knowledge you’ve accumulated.
Always remember, you are not a computer or the data it processes. You are the operator, the one who brings forth God’s beauty and fragrance into the world. We are not here merely to exist; we are here to convert spirituality into physical actions. We are the third equation that makes both good and bad happen in the physical world.
Interestingly, our “atom of autonomy,” or our godlike abilities, stems from this unique human phenomenon. If you view life solely as a physical entity, we would still be living in caves or forests like our so-called cousins, the chimps, and other primates. Without our spiritual side, we would remain at the same level as other creatures. Sure, you can build bigger muscles through regular use, but our real strength lies in and arises from our “atom of autonomy,” or our spiritual essence. Spiritually, we are in a class of our own, so don’t limit yourself to being merely a physical entity like other creatures. We even have the ability to override our animal urges and physical, hormonal influences. We don’t respond instinctively like other creatures when nature calls—we decide whether to follow our natural instincts or to override them.
Interestingly, we also have the ability to challenge our genetics. If you wish to explore, explore yourself to discover what you are truly made of. As I said, we are the “computer operators,” using our bodies and installed data to navigate through this mortal life. If you limit yourself to a purely physical existence, you reduce yourself to a computer operated by your social groups rather than by you. If you believe everything you’re taught, you simply become data, yet you were designed to transcend those installed identities. If you believe in your evolving nature as your true identity, you will eventually discover your real reality.
Now, ask yourself—are you the CEO of your life? If so, you must learn to manage all departments of your life simultaneously. Becoming the head of just one department diminishes your role from what you were designed for. You fail as a CEO when you hand over your responsibilities to your social group, demoting yourself to a part of the machine instead of being the machine God intended you to be. Remember, it’s not God or nature limiting you—it’s you, seeking comfort in the political arms of your group. If you compromise your true identity, it’s related to your personal politics. This has nothing to do with God or your real reality, but everything to do with your group’s political agenda.
If you can truly understand your “atom of autonomy”—the fragrance and beauty within—you can solve many of your spiritually related belief system issues. For instance, by gaining more insight into your thought processes and their related powers, you could at least recognize the “dead dogs” in your life or, at best, personally find the solutions. Always remember that human thoughts can produce real, physical effects. For example, the thought of losing control over something can create fear, stress, and even anxiety. Depending on how susceptible you are, not everyone can be affected in the same way. For instance, a hypnotherapist can only hypnotize certain individuals who are more susceptible than others. These differences in susceptibility need to be explored. If we don’t strive to learn more, how will we discover more?
Most of our discoveries come from individuals who seek, and they deserve recognition. As groups, we often discourage individuals who question the boundaries of the norm, especially in matters of religion. Religious societies, with their strict traditions, customs, rituals, and rules, often discourage seeking. Sometimes, educated people must leave conservative societies to explore and excel. Since evolution depends heavily on seeking, if we don’t exercise our brains and muscles, we can’t grow or progress. If you ask everything from God, it reflects the religious education we all receive while growing up in conservative societies.
Think about it this way: if a thought can cause an anxiety attack, it also has the power to counter it. Meditation can help change the direction of your thoughts. Similarly, if a thought can stimulate sexual responses, this shows the real, physical power of human thinking. Sure, some of us are better at multitasking, but typically, one thought dominates at a time. Meditation exemplifies this, although it works better for some than others, which is why I believe it’s a form of symptom relief. Nonetheless, its growing popularity worldwide indicates that people need even symptom relief, as stress levels are increasingly spiraling out of control. Since we can no longer hide behind the concepts of God and the Devil as we did in the past, we must find new solutions. The reasons some individuals are more susceptible to thought-induced anxiety or relief than others can and should be explored.
Remember, responsibility brings stress, so we must manage our lives like the CEOs we are. If you can create a positive mental image to reduce your anxiety—or create anxiety by thinking about out-of-control situations—it means you are the key to managing it all. That is why, regardless of the stresses, you must become the CEO of your personal life.
If your “triangles” are flipped, only you can correct them. Sure, you can disconnect while meditating or medicating, but once you stop, your thought process will bring you back to your regular world. Symptom relief, no matter how effective or popular, is still just that—relief from symptoms. If you take a multipronged approach, you might find the real “dead dog” of your problems. Thoughts are usually the product of the education we grow up with, and our powerful, sometimes out-of-control, sense of belonging plays a large role in that. For example, if you lose your personal identity to your group and fail to respect your individual fiber, you may have low or no self-esteem because you believe you aren’t worthy of a direct connection to God. You may believe you are irrelevant on your own and must remain connected to your group.
This mindset places your sense of belonging at the top of your triangle, which destroys your individuality, as your ability to override your natural instincts and genetics has been taken away. In reality, you were created as the CEO of your life, with your senses beneath you, meaning you can sway your “pendulum” at will or keep it centered by making conscious choices. With an out-of-control sense of belonging, you put all your energy into fitting in or impressing others, dying with the desire to be admired by your group. If you don’t realize this is a core problem, you’ve been brainwashed. It’s time to take charge, become the CEO, and place your sense of belonging at the bottom, where it belongs alongside your sense of freedom. If your triangle is flipped, you can’t fix it through meditation or medication. You must find your true identity, rooted in your personal “atom of autonomy,” become the CEO, and manage your sense of belonging appropriately.
Remember, you control that swinging pendulum to create balance. Your group won’t do that for you—because as a balanced individual, you are a thorn in their political side, especially when you start to call a spade a spade. You are the CEO who needs to understand the “dead dogs” or causes of your problems. While symptom relief strategies may help, addressing the root cause—the “dead dog”—is the real solution. You are not a genetically programmed creature like a worker bee or warrior ant; you can question your sense of belonging to find some relief.
Most human individuals are decent, but some are more susceptible and insecure than others. In some cases, their personal judgments are influenced by their group-related insecurities. They learn to use others for personal needs but are, unfortunately, equally susceptible to being used by their groups. Logically, their personal weaknesses and insecurities stem from these political influences. Individually, we must understand why we were created as the CEOs of our lives. A good CEO neither uses nor is used by others, especially regarding personal and spiritual principles.
We must be vigilant about the data that is installed in us. Remember, if you use people, you will eventually lose self-respect. And if you allow yourself to be used by your group, it’s because you’ve lost your godly fragrance and beauty, which is the foundation of your self-esteem.