Several years ago I found it necessary to seek temporary work in the insurance industry in Chicago. It soon came obvious to me that I was dealing with the issue of power in Chicago. Although I felt that it was good for me to be there, "things" conspired to give me a hard time. Because I felt I would be there for at least several months, I opened a checking account there. It took me six weeks to get my checks. I got an Automatic Teller Machine card but it took me an additional seven weeks to get the secret number so that I could use it. My W-2 form was wrong. I was not getting my mail or phone messages. Ad (believe me!) nauseam.

I handled this, at first, in my usual manner of not getting upset and letting nature take its course. But I soon realized that things were not getting done that way. So I took a more active approach. I demanded that things be straightened out. Outwardly I was calm. Inwardly I said I would not rest until each situation was resolved and I would not take no for an answer. My resolve was totally firm. I did not always know what the outcome would be. I merely held in mind the end result which I wanted to accomplish and kept taking some kind of action. Since I didn't know which action would be the "right" one--that which would lead to the solution--I took the first action that came to mind. If it didn't work, I tried another.

Each situation was completed to my total satisfaction. I held in mind what I planned to accomplish and took whatever action was necessary. Both steps seemed to be essential. What I experienced was POWER. Raw, unmitigated power. I felt it (and still do) coursing through my entire being. I knew that there was no situation that could happen that I could not easily deal with to accomplish what I wanted. With my whole being I expected it. What we - you and I- are doing when things in our life appear to go wrong is refining our abilities and our power. Of course, at first we think we are doing something wrong or not living our lives "in the flow". But this is not true and we should not get down on ourselves. Rather, we should stand up and say (very powerfully) "enough", and take whatever action is necessary. We do not need to know what the final result will be. If we are doing what, in our hearts, we feel to be the correct action, then we will be entirely satisfied with whatever we create for ourselves.

Earlier I likened our total Spiritual Self to a seven story office building with the command center at the top. It is time for that command center to shift to the conscious level. To do this, we are undergoing "executive training", kind of like role playing. This is to force us to take charge of the situation and to MAKE US REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN CONTROL AND CAN CREATE A FAVORABLE RESULT in any and every situation, either personal or global, on this physical level. Yes, we have that power. It resides in us.

This is US doing it to US. It is not "fate", "God", or any other outside agency. It is us awakening from our slumber. When you do stand up and take charge, you will be pleasantly surprised how easily and quickly everything becomes ordered. However, if your effort is half-hearted and unconvinced, so shall be your result. Be that ruler or world leader who is used to being obeyed. The energy conforms to your command. This is a primary Law of the Universe. The meek shall not inherit the Earth. That is a mistranslation. Those will inherit the Earth who claim it. Do so today in full power and glory

At my job in Chicago, I tried to take a laid back approach. The department in which I worked was a mess. I am a born administrator. This I have known at least since I graduated from college. I KNEW that with my talents and abilities I could straighten out the department. But I was not there to do that. After I had been there a few months I attended a couple of meetings which really got my mental and emotional systems revved into high gear. It was obvious that top management thought it was going to solve all the problems by coming up with with nice new systems and by exhorting the workers to work harder.

First of all it wasn't the workers who got them into this mess, it was poor planning by management - bring the business in the front door and then we will worry about it and maybe budget for it. I was impressed at first with the wonderful plans management had to bring to the problem. It was evident that much thought and planning had gone into them. But, those plans had nothing to do with reality. The real problem lay in the fact that there were not enough people to do the work, and those they had were insufficiently trained. The business of the company had increased six-fold, the workers attending to this business had increased, maybe, two-fold.

I could see this. It was patently obvious to me. I, as always, could see the broad picture as well as the small picture. These types of situations are very frustrating to me personally because I know I can fix the situation to the satisfaction and goodness of all concerned, but I felt that was not my task there, as someone who was hired merely to do the work. I could see the managers working away in their little offices, making their plans and their money, lost in their own little game.

And then it came to me. Life is a game. It is not so much an illusion as a game. And there are no rules. We can do anything we want to do. They were playing their game the way they wanted to play. AND MORE POWER TO THEM. I had the option of going in to their offices and telling them how to run the company. I could have done it subtly or I could have ranted and raved. They could have taken my advice or they could have fired me. Either way would have made no difference to me. I would have expressed myself and the energy within me. Those were the rules I could have made up for my part in the game. If they had fired me, so what. I am God and will never lack for what I need or want. I would just create some other way to spend my time and have money flow to me. If not there then somewhere else. It is all the same to me. They don't need me and I certainly don't need them. I no longer cared whether or not anybody liked me. That in itself is empowering.