One reason this project took as much time as it did was that I
did not know where it would lead, so I really didn’t know what
I was looking for. Since then I have shared this story with thou-
sands of people who have been able to accept helplessness much
more quickly.
Two very important things to remember:
- Helplessness leads to power.
- Helplessness is a feeling, not a condition, and therefore it is
temporary.
Possible Origins of Struggle
From our study of the dynamics of the human mind, we find no
inherent reason that life must be a struggle. No doubt you have
noticed, also, that some people turn even simple tasks into con-
founding problems, while other people flow through life with a
degree of ease unknown to the first group. Free will provides all
people the prerogative to choose those actions that support the
expression of whatever purpose we choose, as well as to design
and select the internal sensory representations that produce the
behavior we prefer. So why is life a struggle for many people?
Birth Experience
In his groundbreaking book, Birth without Violence, (Inner Traditions
Intl Ltd. 2002), Frederick Leboyer, M.D., draws on his experience as
an obstetrician to present a strong indictment about the negative ef-
fect of modern birthing methods on newborns. He argues that the
birthing procedures commonly in use have been designed for the
convenience of attending doctors without consideration for the new-
born. His strongest and most well- founded argument is against cut-
ting the umbilical cord before newborns have time to learn to
breathe on their own. In so-called normal birth, the umbilical cord is
cut as soon newborns emerge from the birth canal. This premature
separation from the umbilical life support system requires newborns
to begin breathing immediately or suffer brain damage due to oxy-
gen deprivation.
Because the amniotic fluid that filled and protected the lungs in
the womb must be expelled immediately, before breathing can be-
gin, the practice of suspending newborns in an inverted position
evolved. Gravity quickly removes the amniotic fluid, and the new-
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