Consider for a moment how it would feel if you really could imagine anything into existence. This is not magical thinking; it's just a thought experiment.

Imagine that you could build a business, make a million dollars in profit (helping people along the way, of course), and be absolutely certain at the beginning that you would be successful.

Imagine that you had the ability to heal people. Not by going to medical school for many years, and not by having faith, but just by knowing your own energies and how to use them.

Imagine learning how play the guitar at the professional level, in six months instead of six years.

Now imagine what the people around you would think about you if they knew you had
one of these abilities.
No doubt they would look at you a little funny.

Maybe these things seem farfetched. Maybe you don't want any of these things. But most people are far more powerful than they think they are, and one wonders if they are holding themselves back.

So here is the question:

Are most people afraid of how powerful they really could be, and is that why most people don't fully achieve their true potential?

asked 17 Nov '09, 03:20

Vesuvius's gravatar image

Vesuvius
32.7k1165201

edited 18 Nov '09, 01:42


I think many people have an innate fear of gaining more power, resources and influence than they'll be able to handle. It's really a fear of failure. I have often heard people say things like, "Oh, I could never do that" with regard to a major endeavor. It's my belief that my ex-wife dropped out of college when she was getting A's and B's because an inner "tape recording" kept telling her "Nobody in my family succeeds at anything." There are a lot of people who are held back by such self-fulfilling prophecies, many of which are messages we have taken in and believed at an early age. Consequently, I believe many do fear their own potential power and success, feeling that they don't deserve such things, or fearing that at some point they are going to fail.

I love the quotation mistakenly attributed to Nelson Mandela, which he did use in his 1994 inaugural address, but which was actual written by Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

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answered 18 Nov '09, 09:12

John's gravatar image

John
4.2k11540

edited 23 Nov '09, 05:34

Thanks for the quote. I knew I had heard it somewhere, I just couldn't remember where.

(18 Nov '09, 17:21) Vesuvius
1

A favorite quote of mine that I've not read in a long time. Thanks for the reminder, John

(18 Nov '09, 18:40) Stingray

You're welcome, both. The quote is a very powerful one for me personally.

(20 Nov '09, 22:13) John
showing 2 of 3 show 1 more comments

People are afraid of their own power is something that I hear often but I don't really believe it's true.

I think we are really afraid of the changes that we need to make in order to realize our power. Even if our current situation is not perfect, at least it's familiar and thus "comfortable", so we tolerate it.

Realizing your power quickly may mean that you have to let go of all your friends, maybe even your family, the place and the way you've been living etc and as our values are deeply influenced by society, religion and so on, it's not so easy to apply such changes. So for me what we fear is change, not power.

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answered 17 Nov '09, 12:40

Toshiro's gravatar image

Toshiro
1.9k159

Agreed, fear of change.

(17 Nov '09, 16:56) Vesuvius

I am definitely in agreement with you Toshiro.

(18 Nov '09, 21:41) Pink Diamond

well maybe it is the other way around people will leave you because they are afraid of what they do not understand or fathom. look at jesus he is perfect example of someone that achived is true potential. and yet with all he did for people in compassion they put him on the cross.

(27 Sep '11, 01:47) white tiger
showing 2 of 3 show 1 more comments

I totally agree that it is more the change that we are afraid of or I guess the change that the power creates. Even though we sometimes don't like where we are at we still cling to it tenaciously rather than move outside our comfort zone. When we begin our spiritual journey new challenges and lessons are presented to us in order to aid our spiritual growth. However in order to learn from these challenges we have to be willing to fully embrace them, no matter how uncomfortable that may feel, and we also have to be willing to let go of our old way of being which can be pretty scary, even if the old way was not serving us well it was at least familiar. I think fear is the only thing that ever holds us back from realising our full potential.

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answered 17 Nov '09, 19:36

Michaela's gravatar image

Michaela
35.0k22677

I have heard that some people are afraid of their real gift if they have an gift, ESP, or special talent they have notice as far as they know only they can do this and others can't. It is not normal and you are considered "crazy" or "working for the devil" so they are afraid of their own gift.

I think everyone has the power of special gifts but at different percentage of getting them materialized. I think the more you practice and believe you have something the better you get at it. I think most gifts lay dominate within our system but it is only an guest.

I heard of someone who had an gift and was afraid of it an so he ask God to take it away from him and God did. He was afraid it was from the devil.

The danger is not in the gift or ESP being powerful or bad but in the way the person may use the gift as bad or evil to hurt someone and yes there is an such thing as evil.

If anyone has an gift they need to protect themselves as they help others without others knowing they are helping them. That way want no one really know you have an gift an being considered out of the norm an square peg trying to fit in an round hole. You will be able to help unnoticed.

It takes an lot of courage an compassion not to get back at someone that has done you wrong.

Some gifts are very powerful and you would have to be very careful on how you handle that kind of power and be prepared for others trying to take it away from you are malipulate you into doing what they want you to do with it.

Pray to God and ask for his guidance and protections with your special gift and to help you use it rightfully and wisely.

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answered 17 Nov '09, 19:39

flowingwater's gravatar image

flowingwater
7.1k63797

edited 18 Nov '09, 06:06

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

(27 Sep '11, 00:44) white tiger

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

(27 Sep '11, 01:56) white tiger

I Think Most of us get caught up trying to line up our ducks in a row & postpone our real dreams in favour of spinning the plates of life ringht in front of our eyes.

But to not lose all hope we keep coming to books & forums such as these and discuss & discuss & discuss & discuss & discuss & post & ponder & discuss & occassionally actually try some of these techniques.

To our saving grace everytime we try out some of these experiments regarding consciousness they always deliver & we experience a life changing awakening which lasts until the next distraction of life.

So our actual progression is slow & lifelong but to sustain this growth the constant excitement of sudden spiritual awakening dangles in front of our eyes like the carrot constantly enticing the donkey to keep taking another step and another step hoping to grasp the reward in front of the eyes.

Or could it be that on a spiritual sense in comparison to our true potential we are just as capable as a donkey right now.

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answered 26 Nov '09, 08:57

The%20Traveller's gravatar image

The Traveller
19.6k12142

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. make that step and keep on walking. experience and enjoy.

(27 Sep '11, 02:08) white tiger

We seek power if it's going to be ours. we fear power if it's ''others'' power. here is the trick or the mental block .. what insurance do we have, that after we get control of this power that no one else will have it and use it against us? .. moreover, how would others react against us to get this power/knowledge from us? ... that's the real cause of fear.

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answered 17 Nov '09, 16:44

Adel's gravatar image

Adel
2.0k149

Interesting point. Sometimes we fear the loss of what we don't even have yet!

(17 Nov '09, 16:59) Vesuvius

what you do to other will come back to you. if you live by_ you will die by__. so are you afraid to die? IF SOMEONE USE THAT AGAINST YOU WILL HE NOT USE IT AGAINST HIM AT THE SAME TIME?

(27 Sep '11, 02:00) white tiger

We are capable of anything we can think of. This has been proven again and again by scientific and medical means. People are very afraid of their power because as Jesus said before leaving, "I am sending the Holy Spirit to help you and I must leave so that the spirit can come." He also told us that we would then have greater powers then he had while he was here. Our job, our duty, our purpose here on this planet is to create, and to create goodness. Many people use their power for evil and bad purposes. We should only use this power for the good of mankind and the earth. Nothing can stop us if we set out to reach a goal. The only thing that stops us is when we give in and give up.

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answered 18 Nov '09, 03:11

Karen%201's gravatar image

Karen 1
612

I agree to use it for goodness and that Jesus gave it to us and more than he had. Have an nice day.

(18 Nov '09, 05:59) flowingwater

I think people are afraid of power because of influential quotes like these in society: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." -- Lord Acton.

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answered 26 Sep '11, 17:33

Chilli%20Lor's gravatar image

Chilli Lor
111

power is another lesson. and those that the power corrupts are stuck at that level. if you cannot trust someone with little you cannot trust them with alot.

(27 Sep '11, 02:10) white tiger

you can find the answer in those 2 video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6eTbhHE0jM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcno7aRTYnU&feature=related

God words are the absolute truth. even if you have all power you do not want to crush people with your power and be a dictator. you have free will you chose good or evil.

and yes people are afraid are jealous etc. did they not put jesus on the cross.

experience and enjoy.

link

answered 27 Sep '11, 00:15

white%20tiger's gravatar image

white tiger
21.9k116117

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