This aspect of your inner power is actually a human right expressly described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 18 states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought..."
Article 19 states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression..."
As you can see, being master of your thoughts and beliefs is a basic human right. No one has the right to force your thoughts or beliefs. This declaration of human rights has of course a political connotation. However deep inside, these laws are natural human laws which define human power and dignity. They do set up the ground for healthy relationships between human beings.
Once you are assured of this freedom of thought, the next level of mind power is to have greater influence over the thinking streams in yourself.
Sometimes you feel trapped in a way of thinking which feels like negative or self sabotaging. In these situations, you often realize your own limitations in terms of choosing your "mind set".
This is the moment you start looking for tools to maximize the way your mind functions.
Imagine being able to click on an empowering stream of refreshing thoughts and beliefs. It's a bit like shifting TV channels.
Would you like to be able to choose your "mind channel" and consciously decide about the color of your thoughts?
If you had the power to step out of a sudden negative thinking pattern, would you do it?
There are many streams of wisdom and teachings which aim just at that: having greater influence over what happens in your own mind.
The usual deviation is wanting to control someone else's thoughts. Big mistake. Going that way is precisely like breaking these basic human rights - article 18 and 19.
Remember: with greater power comes greater responsibility. The question is: "what do you do with your mind power?".
Let's take another example and check ideas like manipulation and influence. Check the world of sales. What about a political campaign. It's all about influence, right? The question is: "when does influence become unethical".
Some years ago, I heard that "advertising subliminal messages" were banned from adverting in movie theaters.
Subliminal messages were very short flashes and images which were projected on screen. The "image flash" was too short to be consciously recorded by someone but was still recorded unconsciously by the human mind. The result: if the image was for instance, a picture of a fresh glass of Coke you could have people rushing to the bar at the end of the movie and ordering a Coke without really knowing why.
Society decided: That's one step too far.
When you wake up your natural sources of power, you have to consciously choose your ethical "territory". It is like a resource of energy you can polarize in so many directions. Everyone is responsible for their own actions in that territory.
What about "positive influence"? Take this example: You see a street fight starting in front of a night club. Would you like to have the power to step in there and "positively influence" an aggressor so that the fight stops on the spot?
Another example: One of your friends is on an alcohol related "self destructive loop". Would you like to have the power to positively influence them so that their state of mind shifts? Imagine what would happen if after a short talk with you, your friend says something like: "You know, I don't know what has been happening to me lately, but I can see clearly now what I am doing to myself. No good!"
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We could discuss this further but I feel that at this stage the best solution is to use your intuition and common sense.
With greater power comes greater responsibility. Be wise!