Power and Freedom

[sabrinamari]

I am reading a book that has me musing about two of my favorite subjects: power and freedom. It's "The Culture Code," by Clotaire Rapaille. It's a fast read and easy to digest. It's also useful for increasing my power to act and my freedom in the world, two excellent things.


The author has spent years figuring out how Americans (and others) interpret their world. His method uncovers America's "codes," or subconscious imprints, for experiences like shopping, beauty, food, love, sex health, and fat. He takes large groups of people and puts them through a process that helps them recall their earliest impressions of something, then he pulls out underlying patterns that repeat themselves again and again in the majority of these people's stories.

The book gives me, as a reader, the ability to understand both the bigger national codes around me and my own internal inclination to act "on code" or "against code". This gives me the power to understand what I do better and actually choose whether I want to continue them or not.


As far as I am concerned, this is the basis of all power.

What I do not understand about myself I *cannot* choose. When I do not understand something about what I think or do, I find myself at the mercy of people and forces that can exploit or influence me...even my own dysfunctional neurosis. What I come to understand, I can control.

When I can control myself, I control most situations, even though I cannot control other people.

This increases my freedom.

This premise is the basis of all my Neophyte and 2nd Degree work. I wish to influence others to become more powerful, taking the freedom that is their birth right, and increasing their agency in the world.

I think this is the premise of all my work, actually.


This book offers me the opportunity to understand some of the codes that have driven my behavior, and the freedom to consider them before I act on them automatically.

In some ways, my internal imprints are "off code" for Americans. In others they are dead on code. Now I can *choose* when to act on and off code: for example, when I shop, I can ask if I am shopping in order to "feel reconnected to life" (Clotard's assessment of the American code for shopping). Do I feel the urge to spend my money in order to feel more alive? If so, is there another way I can meet that need?

There are many, many other applications for this book---both for individuals trying to increase their power in the world and for retailers seeking to present themselves in such a way as to increase sales (Clotard points out that "on code" advertising will work much better than "off code" advertising).


Power and freedom. I can never get enough.

Comments

[boy-pastiche.livejournal.com]

Wow, I totally agree about the power/control issue. I really want that book now :)

[skyefyr.livejournal.com]

The book sounds wonderful.

Now I want to know how it felt to just be able to sit back, relax and read without any "write my book" stress hanging over you. No need to feel guilty about taking time away from "your book", to just be able to do something completely for you.

After 15 years, It must have felt very strange....

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Oh my Gods, I'm having moments of confusion...is this OK? Can I do *this*?

This morning Michael told me he is going out, and Trent is with his mom, so I can do anything I want. I said,"Well, I have alot of reading to to for work on Monday but then I'll do a little writing..." STOP!

We laughed and laughed!

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

Is it interpreting the Blind Spot and the Unknown in your Johari Window?

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Ooooo, yes!

[seedmoon.livejournal.com]

This sounds very much like the underlying basis of the Landmark Forum.

Taking a couple of the forum courses is what helped me pull myself out of my post break-up malaise, start my own business, buy my condo, etc.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I've only heard of this when you mentioned it. I should look. :)

[jasminewind.livejournal.com]

I think I'll get that book, it sounds interesting. Having 99.9% of my books in storage right now makes it easier to justify new ones.

So, if I'm shopping because I don't have enough clothes that fit (my body or my image of myself) and the not having is making me stressed and negative about getting dressed, starting my day, going out into the world (where I need to make new friends & people are getting to know me on a daily basis), am I shopping to feel reconnected to life? or do I really need new stuff?

I have been struggling with that one lately because I have been feeling like I need new clothes but I'm not ususally a retail-therapy sort, in fact, I dislike shopping.

I hope your mouth is okay.

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

The author makes a distinction between "buying" (going to fill a specific need) and "shopping" an activity that is an end in and of itself. But he also adds that we give ourselves very reasonable alibis to cover up the truths beneath what we do.

Who knows what your reasons are...only you can tell.

[jasminewind.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I don't think of "shopping" as an activity unto itself, it is always a means to an end for me. As an adult, I don't "go shopping" unless I need something. The hard thing for me is the materialism implied by such actions.

Then again, I suppose the "buying" need could be emotional and not material. Hmm... I don't think so, I think it is that I hate to shop so I don't think about how I need new clothes so I don't recognize that the lack of suitable clothing (that fits me physicially & personality-wise) is making me grumpy about my life.

Good stuff!

[dragonflycai.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the reminder. I'll want to invest in a copy myself.

I remember stumbling on that book at a time when buying it wasn't an option for me. I sat in the coffee shop and took notes, because it just had so much to say.

Re: Good stuff!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Wanna borrow my copy? We can pass it around our local community. :)

Re: Good stuff!

[dragonflycai.livejournal.com]

If that works out, that would be lovely. :)

Re: Good stuff!

[vgnwtch.livejournal.com]

I was going to say, public libraries are a wonderful thing.

[diekonigin.livejournal.com]

I find your posting this really ironic, especially the part about your not being able to control other people, but control situations. My post I just did a few minutes ago about a very frustrating person attempting to "cause" situations related to just that very topic!!!!

You may find a book in my library of interest. It's called Power Source by Dr Mark Tager. I've not been able to find it on amazon, but here's a site that talks about their training programs using that book -- http://www.workskills-lifeskills.com/keynotes.html (I think you'd be a fantastic trainer of that program too!)

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Oooo, this sounds like a cool thing I should check out. Thank you.

[warning-dca.livejournal.com]

"Liberty is the divine source of all Human Happiness"
-Cato's Letters

Therefore, any stride to increase the liberty of one, or many is a step forward.

Any attempt to deprive liberty of one or many is a step backward.

A step to increase the liberty of one through depriving the liberty of another is no step at all.

You cannot make someone understand something and from there, force them to find choice and freedom (and use it), you cannot "give" people Liberty - they must seek it and master it for themselves. The best you can ever do is offer guidance and help if they seek it, or set an example through your own endeavors.

People must choose to be free...and to let other people be free to choose that path for themselves.