Do You Know Who You Are and Why?

The only true power is a functional and integrated whole

So here we are in the tenth installment of Innate Ability Development™ and we’ve covered a lot of ground. This far we’ve discussed two principles in this new paradigm:

  • Principles must precede practice.

This basically reminds us that without a solid philosophical foundation upon which to stand, all the strategies and skills are functioning groundless. With any amount of thought, the thinking individual must realize that there is no panacea or overarching strategy for individual success, wealth and fulfillment. Regardless of what’s propagated… everything must be unique to the individual. However… there are some fundamental principles. Practices are situation and individual specific. Principles are eternal.

  • The only true power is a functional and integrated whole.

Science tells us that everything is energy. To use a mundane example, a light bulb (and its diffused energy) can shed light upon a large area or space. Contrarily, a laser beam (with its pin point focus) can cut through steel. Do you follow?

There is limited energy in a diffused and fragmented source. When that same source becomes integrated and whole it has power of epic proportions.

Some of the most powerful emotional energies we possess are those which current personal and spiritual development have labeled “bad, wrong or negative.” Please ponder that one long and hard.

Suppressed anger will eventually explode and “tear the place down.” By the same token when it’s accepted, integrated, utilized and channeled in the right direction… it makes the owner unstoppable. Are you following?

That which is suppressed… will be expressed; in later days and uglier ways

A critical part of being whole is defining and walking your own path. For true success is doing what you choose to do and becoming what you choose to become. While walking your own path may seem simply obvious… I submit that it’s far from either simple or obvious.

Ask yourself: “Why do I value the things I value?” Certain cars, homes, neighborhoods. “Why are certain jobs perceived more valuable than others?” A simple example:

This may be the first time you heard this but the luxury car Bentley is owned and operated by Volkswagen. Yes… you read that correctly.

Now why is it that it will cost you a cool $200K to buy a Bentley; and you can pick up a top of the line VW for a fraction of the cost? Both are good cars. Both come with a convertible (soft top) option. Both are made by the same company. But I’d be willing to bet, given the choice between the two, unless you are very different from the vast majority of people, you’d be all over the Bentley.

Does the Bentley get you from point A to B any more quickly and efficiently than the VW? Certainly not (particularly not in Los Angeles traffic). Does the sun on your face or the wind in your hair behave differently in the Bentley versus the VW? Again obviously not.

Then why is the Bentley valued in society at large so much more so than the VW? Answer: programmed perception of value and worth; and the unwillingness of the mass majority to think for themselves and walk their own path. Do you follow? VW is laughing all the way to the bank.

Obviously there are other psychological factors involved here like intrinsic reward (how things make you feel inside). Scarcity (the belief that things that are not as readily observed and available hold more value). But at the core level these are programmed into the collective mindset as well.

True wholeness, as well as ultimate freedom is three things…

First, thinking what you choose to think

Second, fully and completely feeling your feelings, unedited, real and raw. For only in this way can you transmute their powerful energies in an empowering direction. Feelings are the engine that drives your vehicle. Please read that again.

Finally, doing what you choose to do. Living the life that you choose. Walking your own path.

Ask yourself the question:

“How much focused, conscious, concentrated and deliberate work have I done

 to decide exactly who I choose to be?”

There are obviously many strategies I can give you to develop your subsequent focus. Read it here.

If you’re honest, and like most, you’ll most probably have to answer “not much.”

The shocking fact is that the media, the school systems, your church or synagogue, your parents, your friends and society at large have largely defined your identity for you. Frightening. And not one of those individuals or entities has to live in your life and your skin. Something to ponder deeply.

And the journey continues…

Stay Awake, Love Life and Be Epic,

james arthur ray


15 Responses

  1. I have always thought that I walked a different path then most for quite a long time. After reading this installment, I am even more motivated to keep on my “own path” and keep charging forward.

    Regarding feelings suppression, I have difficulty being honest with my girlfriends behavior that I don’t agree with. Upon the suppression, I am smug, short and moody with fear that she might not like my reasoning with her behavior. This installment came at the perfect time! Regardless of the outcome of me honestly expressing myself to her, at least it will be off my chest. I will accept whatever happens after that. After all, it’s all the same in the end.

    Thank you, James! I learn something about myself open every blog you post. Very exciting indeed!!

    Much Love,

    1. Jim… I’m so happy you’re learning… we both are. One of the things I learned a long time ago is that if you attempt to figure out women from a male perspective you never ever will. Women are complex, irrational, up and down fascinating creatures. We have that part as well we just tend to not express and allow it to flow. Your comment is telling that she “wont except your reasoning with her behavior.” Correct. The emotional mind and intellectual mind (reasoning) are two different beasts particularly when not integrated. My suggestion is that you just hold her or make her laugh in these times, do something silly and playful or nurturing. All attempts to reason when emotion is in charge is going to only cause more explosion. Hope this helps… ain’t life grand? ~ JAR

  2. Dear James,

    You have no idea how refreshing it is to read this. This whole concept of “keeping up with the Jones” has never made sense to me. My first ex husband HAD to have fancy toys, motorcycles (including that I had one too), BMW, two 4 x 4 trucks for our business, etc. It only got us deeper in debt to the point I had to sell my motorcycle and eventually his just to make rent.

    I see it as a crazy illness to have to have all the newest, shiniest, fanciest things……….all the time. I’m not against upgrades when it’s necessary (otherwise I’d still be using the same cell phone from 10 years ago if the company/plan still existed). But it is all so superficial when it controls you. A good way to see if ones life is run by their things………..go camping where there’s no electricity, cell phone or internet service for a week.

    We’re only lying to ourselves if we don’t live authentically. Sometimes it’s necessary to wear the “happy mask” until we’re ready to face our own demons. But it should never be a permanent fixture.

    Thanks again for this series of blogs. Good stuff James, good stuff.

    With love,

    ~Kathleen Milliken

  3. Thank you James for another set of three where the final ability to choose cannot happen until the first two are fully engaged. The answer for most people’s ‘not much’ began in kindergarten. If you do succeed early, those first thirteen years of ‘public’ education are only marketing materials for what follows.

    My eight plus years of college education was the biggest waste of my time and money. Most of it was anything but education. It was almost all-numbing control of what to think, planted prejudices, hate, fear and animus claimed as just the opposite. The list of schools I attended is diverse. The need to shred the education system down to its indestructible particles and designed around a future instead of a past is at hand.

    Thinking is not having thoughts or even remotely similar or even part of the conventional known universe. Thought, like water to the fish and air to the bird, is where we are taught we exist. It is not who we are. Thinking in its infancy, is tearing apart thoughts like so many tinker toys or Lego’s and constructing something nobody else has even imagined. The outcome labels you crazy. HOWEVER, I am not my thinking and especially not the thoughts that pass through me. Most will disagree with me on this.

    In addition to the mental homogenization, we are force-fed co-dependence separating access as soon as possible from feeling our true, gut wrenching feelings. If you are unwilling to suppress your feelings, trouble reigns. Finding fault, practicing the art of victimhood or living as an isolated super hero are the extreme choices of co-dependence. Independence isn’t even possible. Yet, only when we experience independence may interdependence; oneness and sacrifice of self be a glimmer of possibility.

    My ‘mind’ doesn’t like or approve of any of the search. There are many ‘minds’ afraid of my escape and naturally I am the source of that fear. This gymnasium is a crazy place.

    1. Michael… I agree, there can be no true interdependence without first independence. True independence is a hard and lonely path. You can’t really state that you stand for anything until you take a true stand. Homogenization might be good for milk but in people it creates droids. ~ JAR

  4. James-

    Funny how I just wrote some lyrics this morning about “apart”ments: working so hard to fill this rented space with stuff, keeping us in these little boxes, all working so hard for it-and WHY? I walked through a department store yesterday, people filling their carts with more STUFF-again, WHY? Why do we need the excess? Says who?

    Waking up can be damn depressing and downright piss you off-that is, until you realize that you’re FREE.


  5. Dear James,

    This is just superb. Great insights. I am from India & am a great fan of yours. I have read your book “The Harmonic Wealth.” Your philosophies are simple but so profound.

    You are now even great after the incident.

    Incidentally, I have also been through hell after being at the top of success & now on an upward spiral; towards a much greater height. Your blogs are always a great source of strength & success.

    Love You…


  6. Dear James,

    I love these blogs. I never leave the page without learning something new about myself as well as the universe as I read. This post is particularly timely as my husband and I have recently set about living our own life and discovering just what that is, and how difficult it can be to just break away from those programs we have grown up with or acquired along the way.

    I always remember someone many years ago saying to me something to the effect of how 35 million folks getting ready to go to work today will put on their Mickey Mouse watches to show the world what rugged individualists they are. I think that still applies with getting into your SUV, or Bentley or pick your symbol. This is a refreshing and challenging reminder that we have to do something inside ourselves if we are going to live our truth.

    Thanks, keep the ideas flowing!


  7. This post was thoroughly enjoyable James! I had to go back and re-read it again. Wonderful stuff! 😀 There is much I could say about this blog, but I’ll just say now that it reminds me of a little poem I know, one by a genius of a man who gave us some serious lessons through seemingly silly rhetoric and rhyme, which in actuality, wasn’t silly in the least.

    The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss
    Now, the Star-Bell Sneetches had bellies with stars.
    The Plain-Belly Sneetches had none upon thars.
    Those stars weren’t so big. They were really so small.
    You might think such a thing wouldn’t matter at all.

    They’d hike right on past them without even talking.

    When the Star-Belly children went out to play ball,
    You only could play if your bellies had stars
    And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars.

    When the Star Belly Sneetches had frankfurter roasts
    Or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts,
    They never invited the Plain-Belly Sneetches
    They kept them away. Never let them come near.
    And that’s how they treated them year after year.

    Then ONE day, it seems while the Plain-Belly Sneetches
    Were moping and doping alone on the beaches,
    Just sitting there wishing their bellies had stars,
    A stranger zipped up in the strangest of cars!

    “My name is Sylvester McMonkey McBean.
    And I’ve heard of Your troubles. I’ve heard you’re unhappy.

    I’ve come here to help you.
    I have what you need.
    And my work is one hundred per cent guaranteed!”

    Then, quickly, Sylvester McMonkey McBean
    Put together a very peculiar machine.

    “Just pay me your money and hop right aboard!”
    So they clambered inside. Then the big machine roared.
    And it bopped them about. But the thing really worked!
    They actually did. They had stars upon thars!

    “We’re still the best Sneetches and they are the worst.

    Then up came McBean with a very sly wink.

    So you don’t know who’s who. That is perfectly true.
    And all it will cost you is ten dollars eaches.”

    This wondrous contraption will take OFF your stars
    And that handy machine working very precisely
    Removed all the stars from their tummies quite nicely.

    Then, with snoots in the air, they paraded about.
    And they opened their beaks and they let out a shout,
    The best kind of Sneetches are Sneetches without!”

    To be wearing a star was frightfully bad.
    Then, of course, old Sylvester McMonkey McBean
    invited THEM into his Star-Off Machine.

    Things really got into a horrible mess.

    The Fix-It-Up Chappie kept fixing up Sneetches.
    Off again! On again! In again! Out again!
    Through the machines they raced round and about again,

    Was what one or what one was who.

    Then, when every last cent of their money was spent,

    But McBean was quite wrong. I’m quite happy to say.
    That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day.
    The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches.
    And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches.
    That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars and whether
    They had one, or not, upon thars.

  8. Thank you James,

    Reminds me when I used to buy, buy, buy even when I didn’t need it! I was in search of the WHOLE INSIDE OF ME outside, Now the questions are: do I Need it, want it , or just gotta
    have it! makes me stop and think, when in doiubt….
    Balancing thoughts, feelings and emotions its sure a workout! ’till it becomes our TRUTH!
    Grateful for your teachings.
    Loving Light!

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