What is power?

Brian Foster3 said:Power is really just the next level of human desire once you've already exhausted your craving for wealth. Once you've chased down power, you move on to this even higher pursuit of knowledge, which is basically where all those material cravings finally die out.

At its core, wanting power is nothing more than trying to manipulate certain parts of reality just to suit your own needs. Honestly, if you look at it closely, the hunger for power is right up there with the desperate need for fame and glory.

Actually, what you're describing is the progression of human desires—basically stages of personal growth—rather than power itself.

The craving for power is nothing more than the capacity to exploit certain parts of reality for your own benefit. In terms of intensity, wanting power is on the same level as chasing fame or honor.

You're talking about how power manifests in the physical world. We're all born with the potential for power, and a person's life mission is to develop and master that strength.
Power isn't inherently good or bad. It's just how we choose to wield our own influence within this dualistic world.
Without any power at all, a person won't even have the leverage needed for spiritual growth. They might end up just being someone else's appendage, unable to take those necessary steps toward their own spiritual evolution.

brisktiger56 said:Whether it’s romantic or not, I guess the main thing is just being on the same page.

Tony, please give me a concrete example here: you say power is clearly manifested through action. But what about power that manifests without direct action? Like, for instance, the way our environment reacts to what we actually do.

I laid out my take. Fear itself doesn't diminish power—it's the decisions and actions taken *because* of fear that do the damage.
In my view, nobody else can mess with our power. Well, okay, maybe if someone is significantly more powerful than us, they can.

Fear can chip away at an individual's confidence, which rattles their self-esteem, and then that whole chain reaction hits their thought process and how they use their free will to make decisions. If someone stops acting the way they intended because they got spooked, that's a degradation of power. Or... maybe it's not the potential for power that's shrinking, but just the will behind it (hmmm)? Whatever part of those core factors gets cut out, the end result is less power. It’s like fire. You need fuel, heat, and oxygen. Take one away, and the fire is gone.

An influential person or a group can sway others, effectively stripping them of their power through persuasion (whatever serves their agenda), intimidation, or direct physical confrontation—in extreme cases, even total incapacitation. Basically, might makes right. The ability to physically overpower or kill someone is undeniable proof of power. Of course, an influential person could also use that same power to empower others, helping them grow from weakness into strength...

So, power is essentially potential energy—the capacity for psychological or physical action created by specific factors like free will, motivation, goals, and the resources needed to reach those goals. Power can be used or abused, much like fire, nuclear energy, or money.
Power can be directed at others or inward toward oneself; it can be visible or invisible. Whether it's "enough" or not is really up to the individual in question.

Alright, let me give you a personal example to make this more concrete:
I was scrolling through a thread earlier, and man, it’s wild how many people in their 30s are dealing with the exact same thing. It’s like there's this constant, relentless pressure from everyone around them—family, friends, whoever—asking, "So, when are you finally getting married?" or "Isn't it about time?" They get hit with these unsolicited warnings that they're going to end up alone or that they won't find anyone else at their age. It’s honestly exhausting.
I’m in the exact same boat. I'm 39, single, and don't have any kids. These kinds of deep, existential questions are something only one specific female friend ever brings up with me—it’s basically become our running joke at this point. Nobody else seems to ask me stuff like this; it honestly doesn't even cross their minds. Why is that?
It all comes down to whether my energy in that specific area—let's keep it symbolic so we don't get bogged down in technical jargon about energy fields—is actually coherent and strong enough to make an impact.
Have you ever experienced something like this? I get this recurring feeling where I feel drawn to certain people—maybe for a potential partnership, a job opportunity, or just some kind of connection—and I find myself picking at them or teasing them a little. It’s never meant to be malicious; it’s just how it happens. I notice this tendency is way more pronounced with specific individuals, whereas with others, that impulse just isn't there. When I decide to lean into that playful teasing, it feels like I'm tapping into their low energy levels. Because my own energy is so much stronger in those areas, I can step right into their space without any resistance at all.
Subconsciously—and sometimes quite intentionally—my energy tends to gravitate toward people who show weakness, almost like a magnet. It’s a dangerous pattern because that kind of vulnerability can be easily exploited. You see it all the time with manipulators or bullies; they sniff out those openings and move right in.
On the flip side, whenever I run into someone with an intense vibe in a certain area, I can feel it immediately. My first instinct is just to give them a wide berth. It doesn’t even cross my mind to try and play games or mess around with them, because honestly, I know I'm outmatched. That person didn't even have to lift a finger or say a word—their energy alone does all the heavy lifting.

Everything I just laid out is really just a demonstration of personal power.

Fear is such a deeply personal thing. It’s that quiet, heavy weight that sits in your chest when you’re alone with your thoughts, making everything feel just a little bit more overwhelming than it actually is. We all deal with it, but how we handle that internal tension defines us. For some, fear is a paralyzing force that keeps them stuck in their comfort zones, staring at the walls of a life they aren't actually living. For others, it’s the fuel that drives them to prove everyone wrong. It’s easy to pretend we aren't afraid, to put on this brave face for the world, but deep down, that vulnerability is universal. Whether it's the fear of failure, the fear of being judged, or even just the fear of the unknown, it shapes our decisions more than we care to admit. But honestly? I think there’s a certain kind of strength found in acknowledging that fear instead of running from it. You can't conquer something if you won't admit it's there. Sure thing! I'm ready to go. Just send over the text you need me to work on. If you can chip away at someone’s ego and shake their confidence, you start messing with their decision-making process—the very thing that shapes how they exercise free will. If fear causes someone to back down from who they were before they were intimidated, that’s a direct hit to their power. Or... maybe it’s not about stripping away their actual capability, but just crushing their willpower? (Hmm.) Either way, if you sabotage any of those core elements, the end result is a loss of power. It’s just like fire. To have a flame, you need fuel, heat, and oxygen. You take away even one of those, and the fire goes out.

Whether it’s one person or an entire group, influence can be used to manipulate others—shaping their power by bending them to a specific will. This happens through persuasion, intimidation, or even direct physical confrontation. In extreme cases, we're talking about outright violence or even lethal force. At its most primal level, it's just "might makes right." The raw ability to physically overpower or kill someone is the ultimate, brutal proof of power. But look, it doesn't always have to be dark. A truly influential leader can also use that same leverage to empower people, helping them find their footing and transform from being powerless to being unstoppable.

Power is essentially potential energy—it’s the latent capacity for psychological or physical action. It’s fueled by a specific set of drivers: your free will, your drive, your ultimate objective, and the actual resources you deploy to get there. Much like fire, nuclear energy, or even cold hard cash, power is neutral; it can be used to build something incredible or it can be weaponized for harm. It all comes down to how you choose to wield it.
Power can be directed outward toward others or inward toward yourself. You can choose to acknowledge its presence or ignore it entirely—but whether you actually possess it? Well, that’s something only you can truly know.

You hit the nail on the head with that assessment. We're currently ironed out the technicalities. Fear doesn't strip someone of power directly, but it can definitely mess with their behavior and the choices they make—which ultimately shapes how that power is used.

Anonymous said:Actually, what you're describing is the progression of human desires—basically stages of personal growth—rather than power itself.

The craving for power is nothing more than the capacity to exploit certain parts of reality for your own benefit. In terms of intensity, wanting power is on the same level as chasing fame or honor.

You're talking about how power manifests in the physical world. We're all born with the potential for power, and a person's life mission is to develop and master that strength.
Power isn't inherently good or bad. It's just how we choose to wield our own influence within this dualistic world.
Without any power at all, a person won't even have the leverage needed for spiritual growth. They might end up just being someone else's appendage, unable to take those necessary steps toward their own spiritual evolution.

Look, I’m trying to put her perspective into the bigger picture here, just to get things straight for once. 🙂

you're talking about the worldly expression of power. everyone is born with this inherent potential for power, and honestly, it should be every single person's job to cultivate and master it.
power isn't inherently good or bad. how we choose to wield our own influence is what defines us in this dualistic world.
if you don't have any power at all, you won't even have the strength required for spiritual growth; you'll just end up being someone else's doormat instead of making actual progress on your soul's journey.

🙂 Alright, alright, let's move on. But seriously, tell me this: who or what actually decides if one person gets the power they need to get things done while someone else gets absolutely nothing?

Brian Foster3 said:Look, I’m trying to put her perspective into the bigger picture here, just to get things straight for once. 🙂

you're talking about the worldly expression of power. everyone is born with this inherent potential for power, and honestly, it should be every single person's job to cultivate and master it.
power isn't inherently good or bad. how we choose to wield our own influence is what defines us in this dualistic world.
if you don't have any power at all, you won't even have the strength required for spiritual growth; you'll just end up being someone else's doormat instead of making actual progress on your soul's journey.

🙂 Alright, alright, let's move on. But seriously, tell me this: who or what actually decides if one person gets the power they need to get things done while someone else gets absolutely nothing?

I think we define it ourselves. Of course, it isn't just some cold, rational calculation where you weigh "Should I have the power for XXX right now?" There are so many variables at play, but to me, sheer will seems to be the most critical one. That said, both power and willpower are things you have to "cultivate"—you have to practice them so that when the moment arrives, you actually have what it takes. But that doesn't mean if you haven't spent your life training, you can't pull off something legendary when it counts.
It's just like physical strength. A trained athlete has more raw power, sure, but in an extreme emergency, even someone totally out of shape might find a surge of strength they didn't know they had—like a parent reacting when their child is in danger.

Anonymous said:I think we define it ourselves. Of course, it isn't just some cold, rational calculation where you weigh "Should I have the power for XXX right now?" There are so many variables at play, but to me, sheer will seems to be the most critical one. That said, both power and willpower are things you have to "cultivate"—you have to practice them so that when the moment arrives, you actually have what it takes. But that doesn't mean if you haven't spent your life training, you can't pull off something legendary when it counts.
It's just like physical strength. A trained athlete has more raw power, sure, but in an extreme emergency, even someone totally out of shape might find a surge of strength they didn't know they had—like a parent reacting when their child is in danger.

But then who or what decides who ends up with that kind of drive and who stays stuck without it?

Brian Foster3 said:But then who or what decides who ends up with that kind of drive and who stays stuck without it?

Look, I’m an individualist. I don't believe there are some external forces pulling the strings of our lives like that. Within the context of this debate, I think it’s fair to say we all make our own calls.
The ability to choose is a massive lesson to learn, and honestly, it's a huge power in itself.
It carries just as much weight when we talk about figures like Gandhi or Hitler as it does when we decide not to spend our entire lives blaming others for injustices we faced as kids. I'm talking about the impact that choice has on the person making it, not how it affects the world at large.

Anonymous said:Look, I’m an individualist. I don't believe there are some external forces pulling the strings of our lives like that. Within the context of this debate, I think it’s fair to say we all make our own calls.
The ability to choose is a massive lesson to learn, and honestly, it's a huge power in itself.
It carries just as much weight when we talk about figures like Gandhi or Hitler as it does when we decide not to spend our entire lives blaming others for injustices we faced as kids. I'm talking about the impact that choice has on the person making it, not how it affects the world at large.

Personally, I’m leaning toward the bolded part here.

A child's willpower—much like their self-awareness, their sense of self within the world, their social environment, and their understanding of personal agency—is essentially handed over to whoever is raising them.

If someone had actually made us aware of this a long time ago, we probably wouldn't be sitting here right now, trying to figure out what "power" actually is, where it comes from, or what we can even do with it...

brisktiger56 said:Personally, I’m leaning toward the bolded part here.

A child's willpower—much like their self-awareness, their sense of self within the world, their social environment, and their understanding of personal agency—is essentially handed over to whoever is raising them.

If someone had actually made us aware of this a long time ago, we probably wouldn't be sitting here right now, trying to figure out what "power" actually is, where it comes from, or what we can even do with it...

Spot on. Kids have almost zero agency early on. But there comes a point—at different ages for everyone—where they finally gain enough leverage to make a choice: they can either keep dragging all that old baggage along, or they can let it go and reclaim their own energy. By doing that, they pull that power back into themselves and take responsibility for how they use it.
People who are stuck living in the past just aren't ready to step up and take that kind of ownership (honestly, most of us struggle with that more or less every day).

Anonymous said:Spot on. Kids have almost zero agency early on. But there comes a point—at different ages for everyone—where they finally gain enough leverage to make a choice: they can either keep dragging all that old baggage along, or they can let it go and reclaim their own energy. By doing that, they pull that power back into themselves and take responsibility for how they use it.
People who are stuck living in the past just aren't ready to step up and take that kind of ownership (honestly, most of us struggle with that more or less every day).

I’d argue that babies actually have quite a bit of power from day one—specifically, the power to drive their parents absolutely insane 😁, especially when they’re hungry, thirsty, wet, tired, or sick. It’s basically hardwired; when those situations hit, the kid pulls an alarm that you can feel in your teeth 😉. The crying and screaming force parents to do everything humanly possible—often way beyond their actual capacity—just to get some peace and quiet. That’s a baby’s superpower. Later on, though, a different cycle kicks in... a new phase of power that society, or whatever power structures are running the show, loves to stifle in the most creative ways imaginable. This inherent ability that could allow someone to truly become themselves is usually suppressed, forcing the individual into a pre-set social mold.

It reminds me of feudalism—kind of like how Franjo Tahi preferred a system where peasants weren't empowered, but were instead kept quiet, submissive, and obedient. Spiritually speaking, the church used to push this idea that eternal life was the goal, but you could only reach it if you suffered enough while on Earth. It was all designed to diminish the influence of the working class, while the centers of power—you know, guys like Tahi or the high clergy—lived incredibly well by skimming off the top of everything the common people produced.

Has anything really changed today?

Well, actually, things have shifted, yet we still haven't really gained control over our own power do you think? Isn't that right?

brisktiger56 said:I’d argue that babies actually have quite a bit of power from day one—specifically, the power to drive their parents absolutely insane 😁, especially when they’re hungry, thirsty, wet, tired, or sick. It’s basically hardwired; when those situations hit, the kid pulls an alarm that you can feel in your teeth 😉. The crying and screaming force parents to do everything humanly possible—often way beyond their actual capacity—just to get some peace and quiet. That’s a baby’s superpower. Later on, though, a different cycle kicks in... a new phase of power that society, or whatever power structures are running the show, loves to stifle in the most creative ways imaginable. This inherent ability that could allow someone to truly become themselves is usually suppressed, forcing the individual into a pre-set social mold.

It reminds me of feudalism—kind of like how Franjo Tahi preferred a system where peasants weren't empowered, but were instead kept quiet, submissive, and obedient. Spiritually speaking, the church used to push this idea that eternal life was the goal, but you could only reach it if you suffered enough while on Earth. It was all designed to diminish the influence of the working class, while the centers of power—you know, guys like Tahi or the high clergy—lived incredibly well by skimming off the top of everything the common people produced.

Has anything really changed today?

Well, actually, things have shifted, yet we still haven't really gained control over our own power do you think? Isn't that right?

I’d actually phrase it a bit differently—it's more that the individual chooses to fit into society's mold.
Honestly, I don't think anything in the universe takes away a person's power except for the person themselves.

Has anything even changed lately?

Well, actually, things have changed, yet we still haven't really taken control of our own lives, you know? Don't you agree?

Exactly. And honestly, I don't think anything *needed* to change. We're all just walking our own individual paths; the average stays the same. The world isn't any more or less spiritual than it was 2,000, 4,000, or even 40,000 years ago.

Anonymous said:Look, I’m an individualist. I don't believe there are some external forces pulling the strings of our lives like that. Within the context of this debate, I think it’s fair to say we all make our own calls.
The ability to choose is a massive lesson to learn, and honestly, it's a huge power in itself.
It carries just as much weight when we talk about figures like Gandhi or Hitler as it does when we decide not to spend our entire lives blaming others for injustices we faced as kids. I'm talking about the impact that choice has on the person making it, not how it affects the world at large.

I’ve gotta tell you, I completely disagree with you there. Seriously, did you get a vote on what kind of traits you were born with? Did you pick your family, your social class, or the neighborhood you grew up in? Did you choose how tall you’d be, what you’d look like, or how much physical strength you’d have? Did you decide how smart or capable you’d be, or even the sound of your own voice? You didn't choose the values you picked up from your parents and society, right? You didn't choose if you'd be generous or stingy, hard-working or lazy, or if you'd gravitate toward math or sports.

Every single one of your internal characteristics was handed down to you. Your preferences, what attracts you, and what repels you—it was all pre-set. You had zero say in any of it. What you experience today as your "self" is nothing more than a collection of causes and effects that played out without you ever having a choice. You might feel like you're choosing between options, but in reality, your innate or learned traits are "choosing" for you based on what fits them best. You’re just living under the illusion of choice. It’s the same thing today: when you pick between two things, you're just picking whatever you think—actually, whatever you *feel*—will give you the most satisfaction.

It’s the same deal with power. Right now, you have a characteristic where you crave power, specifically certain types of it, and so you pursue it. You feel like you have the will to do so. But you didn't choose that drive; your behavior is dictated by those characteristics that were given to you rather than chosen by you. That's why, whenever you're faced with different ways to grab power, you'll always chase the ones you think will bring the most gratification. And that's already been decided by who you are...😉

Brian Foster3 said:I’ve gotta tell you, I completely disagree with you there. Seriously, did you get a vote on what kind of traits you were born with? Did you pick your family, your social class, or the neighborhood you grew up in? Did you choose how tall you’d be, what you’d look like, or how much physical strength you’d have? Did you decide how smart or capable you’d be, or even the sound of your own voice? You didn't choose the values you picked up from your parents and society, right? You didn't choose if you'd be generous or stingy, hard-working or lazy, or if you'd gravitate toward math or sports.

Every single one of your internal characteristics was handed down to you. Your preferences, what attracts you, and what repels you—it was all pre-set. You had zero say in any of it. What you experience today as your "self" is nothing more than a collection of causes and effects that played out without you ever having a choice. You might feel like you're choosing between options, but in reality, your innate or learned traits are "choosing" for you based on what fits them best. You’re just living under the illusion of choice. It’s the same thing today: when you pick between two things, you're just picking whatever you think—actually, whatever you *feel*—will give you the most satisfaction.

It’s the same deal with power. Right now, you have a characteristic where you crave power, specifically certain types of it, and so you pursue it. You feel like you have the will to do so. But you didn't choose that drive; your behavior is dictated by those characteristics that were given to you rather than chosen by you. That's why, whenever you're faced with different ways to grab power, you'll always chase the ones you think will bring the most gratification. And that's already been decided by who you are...😉

My response to everything you just laid out is this: yes, I chose ALL of it. Not within this specific body or this current physical life, but I did. This isn't the place for me to get into the weeds of an explanation, so you can take it or leave it. I'm not interested in trying to prove myself; I've already walked people through this plenty of times. Maybe there will be a better opportunity to dive deeper later.
Coincidences DON'T exist. Everything we're going through isn't random; it's a planned experience. If you look closely enough, you can actually see the design and the purpose behind it all.
To me, claiming everything is out of our control is just a convenient excuse for our own lack of power. All you really need to do is look past the facade and be brave enough to face both your own greatness and your own humility.
I noticed you follow Kabbalah. I've only ever looked at it superficially, but I thought that tradition had some insights on this too.
Again, I'm not looking to prove anything to anyone because this isn't the venue for it.

Anonymous said:My response to everything you just laid out is this: yes, I chose ALL of it. Not within this specific body or this current physical life, but I did. This isn't the place for me to get into the weeds of an explanation, so you can take it or leave it. I'm not interested in trying to prove myself; I've already walked people through this plenty of times. Maybe there will be a better opportunity to dive deeper later.
Coincidences DON'T exist. Everything we're going through isn't random; it's a planned experience. If you look closely enough, you can actually see the design and the purpose behind it all.
To me, claiming everything is out of our control is just a convenient excuse for our own lack of power. All you really need to do is look past the facade and be brave enough to face both your own greatness and your own humility.
I noticed you follow Kabbalah. I've only ever looked at it superficially, but I thought that tradition had some insights on this too.
Again, I'm not looking to prove anything to anyone because this isn't the venue for it.

I'm with you on the fact that coincidences aren't real; everything is just a chain of cause and effect because that's how the universe works. Honestly, I used to love telling myself that I was the one who picked where I was born and who I became, but eventually, I realized that's just total nonsense. It's a mental construct designed to make you feel more significant, more important, and frankly, more powerful than you actually are. 🙂

That said, you totally misread me when you assumed I think everything is out of our control or that we're just living like robots. We aren't. But the actual point where we truly have a choice is incredibly elusive, and most people don't have the slightest clue where to find it. 🙂

Sure, Kabbalah talks about free will. But it points out exactly where we actually possess it and where we absolutely don't, which is a massive distinction if you want to actually navigate life effectively—and I bet you'll agree with me on that. If you really want to put my claims (and your own) to the test, go read the article Freedom, by Baal Hasulama, who was easily the greatest Kabbalist of the 20th century.

Best regards and stay well! 🙂

Look, we didn't get a vote on our parents, our looks, or our basic temperament—that was all decided before we even had a say in the matter. But friends? We actually have some agency there, both back then and still today. There are things we can steer, and things that are just out of our hands—or were, at least, a long time ago.

Whether it’s all just random cosmic noise or some grand, pre-written destiny—well, that’s really down to your own philosophy. But when you start following a specific thread, an energy, or a particular idea... you're bound to run into similarities more often. You find what fits you best, and in those moments, it feels pretty easy to conclude that everything was meant to be.

Personally, I don't think much is set in stone on a day-to-day basis. Within those 86,400 seconds we get every single day, we make choices. We choose what’s good for us, we try to pivot toward something better, or we attempt to squeeze some kind of meaning out of a messy situation.

Having that sense of agency is huge—it's basically the only way to steer your life in the direction you actually want to go. If we don't even realize we have the power to choose, then everything feels pretty hopeless. But if you grew up learning, say, how to stand up to bullies in middle school or how to dodge a bad crowd, then you've hit the jackpot. Of course, it’s never too late to tap into the potential sitting inside you—that power belongs to us. Whether we’re actually aware of it, or whether we're brave enough to actually use it... well, that's a whole different story.

Brian Foster3 said:I’ve gotta tell you, I completely disagree with you there. Seriously, did you get a vote on what kind of traits you were born with? Did you pick your family, your social class, or the neighborhood you grew up in? Did you choose how tall you’d be, what you’d look like, or how much physical strength you’d have? Did you decide how smart or capable you’d be, or even the sound of your own voice? You didn't choose the values you picked up from your parents and society, right? You didn't choose if you'd be generous or stingy, hard-working or lazy, or if you'd gravitate toward math or sports.

Every single one of your internal characteristics was handed down to you. Your preferences, what attracts you, and what repels you—it was all pre-set. You had zero say in any of it. What you experience today as your "self" is nothing more than a collection of causes and effects that played out without you ever having a choice. You might feel like you're choosing between options, but in reality, your innate or learned traits are "choosing" for you based on what fits them best. You’re just living under the illusion of choice. It’s the same thing today: when you pick between two things, you're just picking whatever you think—actually, whatever you *feel*—will give you the most satisfaction.

It’s the same deal with power. Right now, you have a characteristic where you crave power, specifically certain types of it, and so you pursue it. You feel like you have the will to do so. But you didn't choose that drive; your behavior is dictated by those characteristics that were given to you rather than chosen by you. That's why, whenever you're faced with different ways to grab power, you'll always chase the ones you think will bring the most gratification. And that's already been decided by who you are...😉

For someone who doesn't know how to actually use their brain, I'd say that's a pretty spot-on take. Basically, saying we're no different from animals.

So, tell me: what's stopping me today from pausing, thinking things through, and deciding to act exactly how I want to—completely defying the way my past circumstances "built" me?

Sure, maybe a massive crisis could knock me off course, and if I've never bothered to work on self-control or objective reasoning, then yeah, I'd be stuck.

But if I've actually put in the work to develop those qualities, then 80% of the time, I am absolutely going to act out of true freedom.

And I'm not talking about some fake, subjective nonsense either. I mean real, genuine freedom. It's the greatest gift we've got.

We don't need superpowers for this; we just need an open mind, some discipline, regular practice with our self-control, and a decent radar for seeing things exactly as they actually are.

Brian Foster3 said:I'm with you on the fact that coincidences aren't real; everything is just a chain of cause and effect because that's how the universe works. Honestly, I used to love telling myself that I was the one who picked where I was born and who I became, but eventually, I realized that's just total nonsense. It's a mental construct designed to make you feel more significant, more important, and frankly, more powerful than you actually are. 🙂

That said, you totally misread me when you assumed I think everything is out of our control or that we're just living like robots. We aren't. But the actual point where we truly have a choice is incredibly elusive, and most people don't have the slightest clue where to find it. 🙂

Sure, Kabbalah talks about free will. But it points out exactly where we actually possess it and where we absolutely don't, which is a massive distinction if you want to actually navigate life effectively—and I bet you'll agree with me on that. If you really want to put my claims (and your own) to the test, go read the article Freedom, by Baal Hasulama, who was easily the greatest Kabbalist of the 20th century.

Best regards and stay well! 🙂

I don't agree with your first point, at least not at first glance. I saw very clearly why I ended up being born into my specific circumstances and why I turned out the way I did... obviously, that decision is part of a much larger picture where you could ask whether I (well, who am I actually talking about here?) truly have any control.
I do agree there's a part where we have control and a part where we don't. Actually, saying it that way isn't even quite right. You can't simplify it into a single sentence like that.
Here's a question: if I completely surrender to God's will/fate/(whatever you want to call it), do I still have control over that choice or not?
I'll read the text, but probably tomorrow, and then I'll get back to you.

wearyhawk83 said:For someone who doesn't know how to actually use their brain, I'd say that's a pretty spot-on take. Basically, saying we're no different from animals.

So, tell me: what's stopping me today from pausing, thinking things through, and deciding to act exactly how I want to—completely defying the way my past circumstances "built" me?

Sure, maybe a massive crisis could knock me off course, and if I've never bothered to work on self-control or objective reasoning, then yeah, I'd be stuck.

But if I've actually put in the work to develop those qualities, then 80% of the time, I am absolutely going to act out of true freedom.

And I'm not talking about some fake, subjective nonsense either. I mean real, genuine freedom. It's the greatest gift we've got.

We don't need superpowers for this; we just need an open mind, some discipline, regular practice with our self-control, and a decent radar for seeing things exactly as they actually are.

Exactly. If you can think for yourself and make independent choices, you have the agency to act.

Maybe a situation gets heavy enough that all my willpower and logic just fly out the window—mostly because I've never really practiced using them.

Spot on. There are plenty of people wired that way. Honestly, that sense of helplessness is tucked away inside all of us; it's entirely up to us to fix those mental glitches. But the real kicker is: how? How do you repair something that's been neglected for decades—or maybe even intentionally suppressed (in the case of someone who grew up in an abusive household)? A young person with shattered self-esteem doesn't feel powerful, nor do they even know how to reclaim that power. They might not even realize anything is missing, since they've never actually known what it feels like to be at peace with themselves.

wearyhawk83 said:For someone who doesn't know how to actually use their brain, I'd say that's a pretty spot-on take. Basically, saying we're no different from animals.

So, tell me: what's stopping me today from pausing, thinking things through, and deciding to act exactly how I want to—completely defying the way my past circumstances "built" me?

Sure, maybe a massive crisis could knock me off course, and if I've never bothered to work on self-control or objective reasoning, then yeah, I'd be stuck.

But if I've actually put in the work to develop those qualities, then 80% of the time, I am absolutely going to act out of true freedom.

And I'm not talking about some fake, subjective nonsense either. I mean real, genuine freedom. It's the greatest gift we've got.

We don't need superpowers for this; we just need an open mind, some discipline, regular practice with our self-control, and a decent radar for seeing things exactly as they actually are.

The whole concept of "reason" is incredibly subjective.
I mean, in certain cultures, blood feuds are still considered perfectly rational.
Don't tell me they aren't, because to them, they are. And just like a blood feud makes sense to them, you and I have our own set of beliefs that feel totally logical to us, even if they seem crazy to someone else.
In other words, we build our entire "rational" world on such a fuzzy, undefined foundation.

So, what exactly stops me today from pausing, stepping back, and choosing to act exactly how I want—completely breaking free from the way my past experiences "shaped" me?

Nothing. The only real limit is how much you're actually capable of thinking, deciding, and acting outside the mental cage you built based on everything that's happened to you before.
But hey, I'm sure you'll bring up "reason" again.

Maybe a situation gets heavy enough that it overrides me. No amount of self-control or objective judgment could save me, since I've never really worked on those skills.

I'll give you that—practicing those things would definitely sharpen your ability.

That said, if I've put in at least a little work to develop those traits, then in 80% of cases, I'll definitely be acting out of true freedom.

The kind of freedom you think you know. The kind that lives entirely inside your own head.

And I don't need any supernatural powers for that—just an open mind, some consistency, practicing my self-control, and having a decent radar for what the actual, objective reality is.

I didn't see anyone here talking about "supernatural" powers.
An open mind—is that based on reason?
Self-control—that's probably the one area where we actually have some influence, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
As for the "objective" or "actual" state of things? From a human perspective, nothing is truly objective.

Power is basically just the flip side of helplessness. That’s pretty much the whole definition right there.
It works just like anything else we talk about in terms of dualities—you know, positive versus negative, light against dark, yin and yang, all that stuff that keeps the world spinning.
I guess you could try throwing in other concepts like knowledge versus ignorance, possibility versus impossibility, or fear versus courage, but honestly? Adding more layers just muddies the water and drags the topic out further.
And it probably won't actually help us get any closer to figuring out what power really is...😉

casualmaker13 said:Power is basically just the flip side of helplessness. That’s pretty much the whole definition right there.
It works just like anything else we talk about in terms of dualities—you know, positive versus negative, light against dark, yin and yang, all that stuff that keeps the world spinning.
I guess you could try throwing in other concepts like knowledge versus ignorance, possibility versus impossibility, or fear versus courage, but honestly? Adding more layers just muddies the water and drags the topic out further.
And it probably won't actually help us get any closer to figuring out what power really is...😉

Isn't that just a circular definition, though? If you claim power is just the opposite of being helpless, I still don't actually know what "power" means until I understand what "helplessness" is.