“By Psychic Influence”
Look at this first paragraph. Holy smokes –
“Psychic influence consists in awakening the forces too often wasted by a habitual state of moral weakness, or perhaps lessened from a physiological cause. It is the power that determines the processes which we wish to produce in other minds. It is the art of substituting for the want of resolution in others our own will, which they blindly, sometimes unconsciously, ever glad to feel themselves guided and directed by a moral power which they can not elicit in themselves”.
Ok, the first sentence. He is saying there is a mental force in us that we can use for influencing others that many waste by a “habitual state of moral weakness”. That could be the belief that “I want to do the minimum to get by,” or “I will spend my time figuring out how to get more than my share instead of earning it,” or “I do not believe in myself so I will play small” or any other manifestation of moral weakness.
He also says this force can be lessened by a physiological cause. When we are hurt, diseased or sick, we can think of little but our affliction, and our ability, desire and motivation to achieve or make change by influencing a group falls away. We must take care of our health, for without it, we do not have the energy or psychic force to lead.
Let’s look at the third and final sentence in this passage.
Yoritomo says that most people crave leadership. They want to be led by a good leader. They have not made firm decisions on matters themselves and will follow a leader who can make moral resolutions on what to do and which way to go for them.
We are social beings. Not everyone is a leader or wants to be or is made to be. Nevertheless, groups or people need leaders – and want them.
As I read one chapter after another, I found myself taking more and more notes. In this chapter, I took three full pages of notes. We’ve only talked about the first paragraph. We’ll continue tomorrow.
That book is an incredible find, perfect for “Think daily”