MANIPULATION & TRUTH

 Can you tell when you're being manipulated? What's Your Inner Truth?

Have you ever spoken to a very persuasive person who tried convincing you of seeing things from their perspective? Of course. We all have. They either spark great debates and intellectual discussions, or eventually you submit to their way of thinking. It can come from a parent, a boss, a priest, a rabbi, a teacher, a general, a spouse, or just a friend. 

They could have good intentions, and express themselves very passionately because they believe to be doing you a favor by persuading you to their side. They may in fact, use the famous line, "If you don't stand up for something, then you'll fall for anything." When you hear that line, does it make you want to choose one solid belief and stick to it no matter what, to prove that you're smart & strong? Well, imagine Hitler feeding the Natzi's that same line: "If you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything," or the Ku Klux Klan telling their members the same thing. Let's think about this for a second. Do you think it's weak to be neutral? Or weak to be open minded and resist having to choose a side, a religion, a class, a political party, or a mob? (yes, I said a mob)

I bring this up because I feel that at the root of some of societies most horrific and tragic problems is manipulation. Manipulation is something that gets passed down from leader to leader, to leader to leader, to leader to leader - and down the generations they go. Isn't that interesting? Now, do we blame our leaders for following the protocol? (Such as a teacher teaching out of textbooks that have twisted our history, or a general telling us to kill a stranger once we're already on the battlefield?) I don't know about you, but I don't think blaming was ever a real solution. So pointing the finger is out! However, perhaps, the only thing we really need to stand for, is our own inner truth. Question is, how do we find our own inner truth with so many voices in our heads? A Ku Klux Klan member doesn't suddenly realize that African Americans should have equal rights over night. And when the light bulb finally does goes on, it's not a smooth transition to start living rightously after doing wrong for so long. Especially when everyone around you hasn't been awakened the way you've been. Remember this song "IMAGINE" by John Lennon? (Who was assassinated after sharing such a beautiful message). 

Imagine there's no heaven 

It's easy if you try 

No hell below us 

Above us only sky 

Imagine all the people 

Living for today... 

Imagine there's no countries 

It isn't hard to do 

Nothing to kill or die for 

And no religion too 

Imagine all the people 

Living life in peace... 

Think about how controversial this song is. He said, imagine if there were no countries to kill or die for. That means he's against war. He also said, imagine if there was no heaven or hell and no religion too. (America is considered a Christian country.) I personally applaud John Lennon for creating that masterpiece. Will life on earth ever be the way he described in his song? I don't know if it's possible or if it's meant to be. All I know is that if no one is perfect, then that means that even people in a position of power will make mistakes. So think for yourself. Ask questions. And most of all, silence all of the other voices around you until you can hear that gentle voice inside of your spirit, waiting for you to remember your inner, divine, truth before the world around you tried to corrupt it.