Chapter 12: Manipulation and Influence
I hesitate to speak on manipulation because of its negative reputation. Due to abuse of power, manipulation of others has sullied the word to a point of permanent damage and it cannot be changed. However, the rivalling word ‘Influence’ is beginning to enter the same fate. Rather than an abuse of power, it is an obsession with weakness. To influence is to be seen without having to see yourself; an indirect use of power. Never claiming its abuse, something/someone of influence wields the same power as manipulation without accountability. In the age of influencers, anyone can share any misinformation or narrative truth and hide behind their personhood, essentially playing victim. Powerful voices of authority can also abuse influence, manipulating large parts of life while denying the intention; an indirect use of power. While all individuals are not accountable to the same degree, any use of manipulation or influence for self-enriching purposes are threats to finding and maintaining unconditional love.
Do not give abusive people sensitive tools, the tools will break. Abusive people wear their tools down until they are no longer of use. This goes for all abuse; especially the two sensitive tools of humanity. Abuse of manipulation and influence leads the user into beginning to abuse themselves. Using manipulation for personal gain will lead to poisoning of self, leaving them unable to keep up the composure they need for manipulation. Using influence for personal gain will lead to the user becoming deluded, leaving them unable to use their power indirectly, in turn manipulating.
Chapter 1 states “the dead are supposed to be the nutrients for your continued life” but let’s dissect its meaning. ‘The dead’ refers to the previously living, ‘supposed to’ refers to expected purpose, ‘nutrients’ refers to healthy substances and ‘continued life’ refers to survival. The previously living’s expected purpose is to provide healthy substance for survival. In nature, this happens organically through things like digestion manipulating nourishment to build the living bodies of this planet. In human nature, this is using the history of the dead to justify our present means. When the history of the dead is manipulated by either the ego of the dying man or whoever inherited the poison, this influences a world that believes in manipulation for personal gain.
Manipulation of the living is similar to the manipulation of the dead. It in itself is not terrible if it is not abusive. Manipulation of the self for a mother, feeds her newborn child. This is not for personal gain, however this indirectly leads to personal gain. That choice to feed the child influences a belief that you provide nourishment; they will then manipulate themselves in whichever way will earn them that nourishment. Demonstrating a delicate exchange, a connection is reached between the mother and child, creating a loving bond. Alternatively to that example, a writer may use shared familiarity of the human condition to influence an understanding within a reader. Effectively manipulating their words for no personal gain. This delicate balance is known yet voluntarily broken and abused everyday by the pained human race.
Things like guilt-tripping, sad-fishing and rage-baiting are abuses of manipulation that are everyday occurrences. However, someone can feel the influence of guilt, pity or rage on their own and falsely accuse another of intending to cause that reaction within them. Emotional manipulation and emotional influence when used against another will reflect back at the user and create an unending game of tennis. This game of tennis continues until someone self-manipulates. The first person to choose emotional regulation wins the fight but not the war. Luckily in our imperfection, if humanity continues down this path, abusers of manipulation and influence will break the sensitive tools. Then without the ability to regulate, they will die and become nothing.
Physical manipulation, mental manipulation and spiritual energy manipulation all experience the same battle of emotional manipulation. Do not manipulate the world with intentions you aren’t willing to intend for yourself. Do not influence others to believe in something you yourself cannot prove. Both of these paths will eventually lead you to suffer the loss of manipulation and therefore your influence. Self-manipulation is how you influence the world. With no intention to manipulate the world for personal gain, the world rewards you with direction; influencing you to manipulate accordingly. Those who understand unconditional love know this well.