Date: 4/7/2011 Blog-I/Empowerment and Character: Pt. 1/M.,I.A/#P-67506

COMMENTS: WHILE BEING IN PRISON, I HAD TO LEARN TO EITHER SURVIVE OR DIE. I MEAN THIS BOTH PHYSICALLY AND METAPHORICALLY. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE PHYSICALLY, I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO FIGHT, LIVE BY THE RULES (LAW) AND MIND MY OWN BUSINESS. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE INTELLECTUALLY, I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO STUDY, I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO STUDY, RESEARCH SUBJECTS, AND TAKE NOTES. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE EMOTIONALLY, I HAD TO BOTH OPEN MYSELF TO PEOPLE AND LEARN HOW BETTER TO CLOSE MYSELF OFF FROM UNSAVORY CHARACTERS. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE SPIRITUALLY, I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME MORE INTROSPECTIVE AND REFLECTIVE ON LIFE AND MY SITUATION. I ALSO HAD TO LEARN TO BE MORE ARTICULATE IN MY DESIRES, NEEDS, ETC., AND IN GENERAL, TO GET MY POINT ACROSS IN A REASONABLE MANNER WITHOUT CAUSING A FIGHT, AND/OR DIFFUSING ONE (IN OTHER WORDS, I BECAME A DIPLOMAT). ALL THIS, AND MORE, I HAD TO LEARN SO THAT (A) I WOULDN'T FALL PRETY TO THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN PRISON, AND (B) SO THAT I WOULDN'T BECOME INSTITUTIONALIZED, DISILLUSIONED, OR MORE OF A CRIMINAL THAN I ALREADY WAS -- EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE I DROVE SUCH THINKING FROM MY MIND COMPLETELY. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE -- TO COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY REHABILITATE MYSELF, AS PRISON DOESNT DO IT FOR YOU, NEITHER DOES IT HELP YOU DO IT, EVEN THOUGH THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY ITS JOB, PRISON IS JUST A BIG WAREHOUSE TO HOUSE BODIES. THERE IS NO SOUL HERE, NO LIGHT -- ONLY DARKNESS.
THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE -- TO COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY REHABILITATE MYSELF. I REPEAT THIS BECAUSE I FIND THAT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ANYONE CAN EVER DO. ONE MUST TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN LIFE, BY WHATEVER MEANS YOU ARE ABLE, IN ORDER TO SURVIVE THE OBSTACLES LIFE BRINGS YOU.
AND NOW, IN ORDER TO FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO MY SURVIVAL, I FIND THAT I NEED TO TEACH OTHERS HOW TO DO THE SAME. ANY TAKERS???

A FAVORITE QUOTE

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GENIUS AND THE CLEVER MAN CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS, FOR BETWEEN TALENT AND GENIUS THERE IS GREAT GULF FIXED. THERE IS IN THE GENIUS A DIVINE SPARK, A VITALITY, A LIVING FORCE, A DRIVING POWER, WHICH CAN NEVER BE FOUND IN THE LESSER INTELLECT. THE GENIUS GOES STRAIGHT TO THE GOAL WITHOUT APPARENT EFFORT, AND HIS GOAL IS THE TRUTH AS HE SEES IT AND WHICH IN TIME OTHERS ARE FORCED TO SEE ALSO. HE HAS THAT FORESIGHT WHICH INSIGHT, WHICH IS THE GIFT OF GOD, AND CANNOT BE ACQUIRED BY ANYONE ELSE WHO IS NOT SO ENDOWED."
-- MARGARET A. MURRAY, THE SPLENDOR THAT WAS EGYPT, REVISED EDITION," 2004 --

ANOTHER FAVORITE QUOTE

"THE IGNORANT MAN MUST ULTIMATELY BECOME HIS OWN EXECUTIONER. THUS, THE STRUGGLE FOR KNOWLEDGE BECOMES IDENTICAL WITH THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL; FOR ONLY KNOWLEDGE INSURES SURVIVAL
-- MANLY P. HALL, LECTURES --

COMMENTS: THE ONLY REASON YOU FAIL IS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TRY. IF ONE DOOR IS BARRED, FIND ANOTHER ONE. IF A PROBLEM SEEMS INSURMOUNTABLE, FIND A WAY AROUND IT, OVER IT, UNDER IT, OR THROUGH IT. YOU ONLY FAIL BECAUSE YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO FAIL. NEVER TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. IF IT IS NECESSARY TO DO SOMETHING TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS, DO IT! YOU'LL NEVER MAKE IT IF YOU DON'T PUSH -- YOURSELF AND EVERYONE ELSE MAKE IT HAPPEN! OR FAIL AND DIE! YOU CHOOSE!

"SHOOT FOR THE MOON, EVEN IF YOU MISS, YOU'LL LAND AMONG THE STARS." -- UNKNOWN

The Free-Man
By Isaac a. Mitchell (all rights reserved, 2010)

Man makes his own Destiny based on his Perceptions.
Man Changes his Destiny by changing his Perception.
Man Changes his perceptions by becoming more Aware.
Man becomes more Aware by the Study of Himself and his Relation to the Environment (Universe).
Man Studies Himself and his Relation to the Environment (Universe) by Introspection, Reflection and Contemplation.
Man finds Himself and his Place in the Environment (Universe) by Restoring Balance to his Life.
Thus, Man is again Free to Live his Life in Abundance and Harmony.

Comments: In my experience I found that as I changed, others changed with me. I changed them (their behavior towards me) by simply changing myself. By changing my perceptions (of myself and the environment - the Universe), they changed theirs.
In this seemingly inexplicable occurrence, there is an underlying mechanism: what you do with your life affects other people.
Like a stone dropped into still waters causes ripples, changing yourself causes "ripples" of change throughout the Environment. The Key to Empowerment is to create and sustain an overlapping, interacting "ripples" of change throughout Society. In Scinece, this overlapping interaction is called Constructive Interference or Harmonic Resonance. To do this people with similar attitudes and goals network with each other to create a cohesive whole. This process allows those attitudes and goals to become amplified (make louder) so that other people are affected by them. The more people who align themselves in this manner, the greater the effect it will have on the rest of Society.

The Key To Revolution
By Isaac A. Mitchell (all rights reserved, 2010)

The best way to Predict the Future is to Create it.
First, Change What you Do.
What you Do will then Change How you Think.
How you Think Changes What you are.
What you are changes Where you are at.
Where you are at Changes Who you Influence.
Who you Influence Changes Everyone Else.
Everyone Else Changes Who you Are.
Who you are Changes the World.

A Changed World Changes the Solar System.
A Changed Solar System Changes the Galaxy.

Comments:
As my above-Comments imply, true Survival (Salvation) comes by Belief in oneself. This Belief is called Self-Esteem (which is "confidence and satisfaction in oneself"). This is Self-Respect, we also have a higher "regard" for our "own standing or position" in relation to the Environment. Thus, this "confidence" and "respect for oneself" is what gives Man the ability to Trust (have Faith) I himself to Be himself, regardless what Trials and Tribulations he may face on the Journey of Life.
Survival (Salvation) comes not by way of Belief in external mechanisms or personages. It comes only by Self-Esteem, Self-Respect, Self-Confidence. This Trust (Faith) in Oneself is what draws others to you. This Confidence is what draws all Good-Fortune, removes doubt, and repels evil. It also keeps one Health and in Good Spirits. And it is of the highest social benefit, as it fosters Friendliness and Honesty.
Remember: "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find that it is attached to everything else in the Universe."

Q & A:
Q: Is Life supposed to be hard and difficult?
A: No. Man's perception of hardship is defined by his fear of constant toil. It is the inevitability of Life to be a struggle for Man to lift himself from the surface of the Earth. As a baby, Man had to struggle to lift himself to his feet. He had to learn Balance. He had to become Strong enough to Stand. And it was difficult, though not impossible. However, once he learned, it became easy and without apparent effort. The result (Walking/Running) belies the effort it took to Stand up in the first place. This idea comes from an ancient legend ( of the Greek Sphinx), and its related "Riddle" (see next Question).

Q: "What animal is it that in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two feet, and in the evening on three feet?"
A: "Man himself".
As a baby, Man lay there, wherever his Mother laid him. He had not the Strength to move yet. Then, one day, he learned to roll over and move his body. He began to learn to crawl on all fours (hands and knees). Pretty soon he was moving around comfortably. However, this was not enough for him. He was still growing, but he had learned Foundation.
Thus, Man began to learn to Stand. In order to do this he needed to learn Balance. He set himself Upright, learning to see the World from higher Point of View. He learned to use the solid ladder of the 33 vertebrae in his spine to keep himself in his Heightened State. He began to see the World, all three hundred and sixty Degrees of it, from this State. He then learned that Man formed the "Pinion", encircled by the World, a ring (like the letter "O") surrounding him constantly. Agoun, however, it was not enough for him to just View the world in this State of Heighetened Awareness, Balanced on two feet.
Thus, Man began to draw something from his new Experiences. Here, he begins to truly Understand his "O-Pinion", and it made him Wise. Man began to lean on this Wisdom as an Old Man leans on his Staff for Support.
Thus, Boy attained Manhood, then, Sagehood - by the Experience of Understanding Knowledge (of self and his Relation to the Universe) that makes him Wise.
Remember this Lesson well: Neither Riches or Fame, not Power or Influence, will Attain to Honor - but the Steadfastness of an Upright Character.

Comments: One may not Survive (be saved) without the adhering to all manner of truth. There are many degrees of Truth, and, in fact, the Truth is most often Mixed with the False. However, do not look at False as something necessarily bad or evil. False is the dross that is Mixed with Gold Ore. In order to get at the Pure Gold, One must burn away that covering (dross). In this manner it is the discernment between the True and the False that separates the Two for the One.
False must be separated from Truth. One cannot benefit from the False - benefits come only with Truth. But beware, for the False Masquerades as Truth in its big words and eloquent phrases that lack Substance like foods that on may eat and eat and yet provide no Nourishment.
If man holds to Illusion (Falsehood) even while Knowing Reality (Truth), then he will not Survive (be Saved): for Reality (Truth) is as a Sword - it will utterly Destroy you. By putting his Faith (Belief) in Illusion, Man is mis0directed down a path leading away from Survival (Salvation) - even his mind (soul) will be destroyed. Thus, the truth will either set you free, or it will Destroy you.

Comments: There is a time when Man experiences a feeling of being completely in the Moment. It is a feeling that is the Totality of Movement, a Deeply Flowing Rhythm. This Moment is when Man is fully connected with the Environment (Universe), communing with the very nature of himself. He finds himself attuned, in perfect "Time", with all things. This is that Enlightened State of being one-with-all
It is the goal of religion to bring the individual to experience this "state" of be-ing, even while he does nothing more than sit still.

[END]

Signed: Isaac A. Mitchell