Skip to main content

The 'I can', 'I will' and 'I am' powers



These are three of the most strongest powers of a human being which when tapped and utilised rightly can shape us into who we want to become. You can call these three - Belief power, Will or Resolve power and Present or Being power respectively.

Let's discuss briefly about these three powers -
  
I can
'I can' power can also be called Belief power. What we believe shapes our reality. Wrong beliefs are like walls we create for ourselves and then we feel helpless victims of our own self created prison. Right beliefs can help break these mental barriers. The most empowering way to do it is to delete the words 'I can't' in our dictionary of life and replace it with the most powerful words 'I can'. You see just by choosing the right words we speak to others and to ourselves, our our life can change beyond imagination. If you don't believe in the possibility of success and that you can do it, it's just not going to be possible


I will
'I will' power is also called the Will or Resolve power. Once you believe you can achieve something, you need to take it to the next step by resolving to achieve it no matter high or low waters. That's what is called Will power. As Benjamin Disraeli, the famous British statesman said, "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake even it's existence on the extent of its purpose." That means when someone resolves to "Do or Die", then nothing can stop him.

I am
'I am' power can also be called Power of Presence or the Power of Being. Let me explain what this 'I am' power is all about.

The difference between 'I am' power and the other two powers, namely 'I can' and 'I will', is that those who focus on 'I can' and 'I will' only and miss the genius of 'I am', will reach their goal but there will be a lot of struggle going through the process of getting there. These people believe in doing something,  before you reach your goal. But those who tap into the power of 'I am', they get to their goal without struggle. These are the people who believe in being what you want to become.

To give you an example. If someone wants to be happy or peaceful and if such a person solely taps the power of 'I can' and 'I will',  he or she will eventually become peaceful and happy but with lot of efforts but those who focus on 'I am' power, very soon come to the conclusion that there's no need to wait, no distance to cover, no things to achieve or in simple words, no need to struggle to get to that level I am looking for. I am already there. I am already peaceful and happy.

One way the mind cheats us, is by projecting into the future what we can achieve now. So, we are always almost there - almost peaceful, almost happy but never actually there.

The irony is that in the process of wanting to become happy, we forget to be happy, in the process of wanting to become peaceful, we forget to be peaceful.

You see happiness, peace and other qualities we are seeking for is a choice we need to make.

The ultimate meaning of 'I am' comes when you realize that 'I am spiritual being'. As spiritual beings we have all the divine qualities in us, so what is the need to achieve them when it's already there in us. The only problem is that the mind will convince you otherwise, just don't believe it. Remember, 'You are not your mind'. The good news is that you need not cure the craziness of the mind, just stop identifying yourself with it.

 In conclusion when you tap into the power of 'I am', you also automatically access the power of 'I can' and 'I will', there's no separate need to develop your Will power or Belief power. The root illusion from which all problems originate is our our forgetfulness of our spiritual identity. This one shift in our consciousness can literally end all our struggle once in for all.

- Achyut Gopal Das

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SEEKING THE GRACE OF SRI RADHA

Just like we have our mother who gives birth to our material body, to whom we owe our body, we also have our Eternal Mother to whom we owe our very soul. In different religions, She is called and addressed by different names. In Vedic culture, She is addressed as Sita, Lakshmi or Radha - the consort of our Supreme Father. She is our Mother God, our Mother Supreme. The scriptures abundantly and extensively glorify This Supreme Mother - Her love, Her compassion and Her grace for all of us. A mother is always more kind and merciful than the father similarly our Eternal Mother is more merciful than The Supreme Father. That's the reason why devotees desperately seek the grace of the Divine Mother, Srimati Radharani in their spiritual pursuits. Her grace can force Lord Krishna to shower His mercy on us even unwillingly. After all, He is an henpecked husband - completely controlled by Her love. The heart of a mother is very big. What to speak of the heart of The Supreme Mother. Her lo...

MAKE IT A POINT TO MAKE THE POINT

A few days ago, as I was traveling on the ferry that takes us to our ISKCON Center at Chodan island, a relatively young man approached me and started to talk to me. My Vaishnava (devotee) attire probably attracted him to me. He was asking me if I was a preist in a temple. To which I said "Yes". I asked him where he stays and what he does. He told me that he stays in Panjim and runs a chicken shop in Porvorim. I asked him his name and as I guessed, he happened to be a Muslim. I could see marks of dried up blood stains in different places in his shirt. I at once told him to try to switch his profession to one which involves less violence. I suggested to him to start a vegetable or a grocery shop.  He seemed to be taken a little aback by what might have appeared to him to be a stange suggestion by a stranger. I told him that killing innocent animals is not right. They too have life and feelings like us. He was hearing me out. He then asked me, if one can eat chicken ...

THE DEFECTIVE PURE DEVOTEE

Reading this topic, our mind naturally challenges - How can a pure devotee have defects? Shouldn't he, be free from defects? The 100% perfect person! The Mr. Perfect! The point is that a pure devotee can't be seen with material eyes and material logic. Just like Lord Krishna can't be seen with material eyes, so also His pure devotees. You need spiritual vision to appreciate God, His abode, His name and His devotees. Thus Bhakti Vinod Thakur, one of the greatest spiritual teachers of all times quotes the following verse from the Mahabharata which is generally sung before honoring prasadam. maha-prasade govinde, nama-brahmani vaishnave, svalpa-punya vatam rajan, visvaso naiva jayate. " Those who don't have sufficient pious credits cannot develop faith in Maha-prasadam, Lord Govinda, Holyname, Brahmanas and the Vaishnavas. " Sometimes Lord Krishna puts an apparent curtain of imperfection in front of our eyes, so that only those with faith can appreciat...