Day Thirty Four

Rule 34

“Submission does not mean being weak or passive. It leads to neither fatalism nor capitulation. Just the opposite. True power resides in submission, a power that comes within. Those who submit to the divine essence of life will live in unperturbed tranquillity and peace; even the whole wide world goes through turbulence after turbulence.”

"God helps those who help themselves."

I have always been a firm believer in this simple fact. There's a joke that goes like this: Floods were about to hit a village. Warnings were issued, and people were told to evacuate. One household said, "We will not go, God will provide for us." The floods came and people left, except for that one house. With the rising waters, a boat came to rescue them. They said, "We will not go, God will protect us". When water had flooded their house, they climbed on top of their roof and waited. A rescue helicopter came to get them. They said, "We will not go, God will save us". And so they stayed, and so they drowned. When they stood before God, they were hurt and shocked, and said, "God, our faith in you never wavered! Why did you let us die? Why didn't you save us?" To which God replied, "What are you talking about? I sent you a warning, then a boat, and then a helicopter!"

Reality is right in front of your face, whether you choose to accept it is your call. Submission does not mean weakness, it does not mean being a victim. Even if you are in a bad situation and there seems to be no way out, it is your choice to stay. It is your choice to accept that you have no power to change certain situations, and you certainly have no power to change people. 

Let me state this in no uncertain terms: NO ONE has the power to change ANYONE else. It's a lie our society will shove down your throat without the slightest consideration, and I have seen people feel like utter failures for not being able to "change" another person, usually their partners. 

You can only change yourself, and that too only if YOU want to. Nor do you have to change for anyone else unless you absolutely want to change who you are, and maybe you have compelling reasons to do that. In which case, good for you. 

We can't even change our children, to be honest. They are given to us as presents, complete with minds and personalities of their own. They are not extensions of us, their legacies are not linked to ours. They must forge their own path in this world. They must never be "weak or passive", no. But they must accept when things are the way they are, simply because they are. But, as soon as a solution presents itself, it is also our choice to take action. Submission is not subservience. It is acceptance. A quality we all could use more of today.