The Rise of the Chosen Ones. Joseph C. Parker

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      Let us begin by reviewing the current state of the world. Growing up in Western culture has never been easy. Although we live in the wealthiest time and place in the history of mankind, most of us are struggling. Even though there are opportunities all around us, making an adequate living and just getting by is the norm. We see visions of wealth and prosperity on TV, billboards, and on the Internet every day. Images are everywhere of people who have it all. We all want that for ourselves, but somehow the golden rainbow always seems to land on someone else’s door.

      Why is this? Why is it that in the land of opportunity, so many of us remain disillusioned and broke? Even those who appear to be getting ahead are mostly living beyond their means and worrying about tomorrow. What is it about western culture that lulls people into a deep sleep and allows their lives to pass them by without taking a chance? Why do they continue not to believe in themselves, think themselves undeserving, or not smart enough?

      I look around at the culture in which I was raised and see many reasons for this. First, the environment does not support or reward individuality or personal empowerment. Instead, our school system rewards being right, not making mistakes, and social conformity. Second, our media reflects and glorifies being average and poorly behaved. The media networks even encourage bad behavior on reality shows and portray being smart as undesirable and weird.

      Third, the environment does not reward taking risks. For example, I sometimes took risks in school that resulted in poor grades or were interpreted as stupid questions. In my school, personal achievement was only measured in regurgitating knowledge, not new learning or creativity. In my high school, being different could result in social obscurity or being an outcast.

      Television was my primary media source, and I loved comic book heroes and movie stars who had special skills. My biggest heroes were all mythical chosen ones, such as Spiderman or Superman. Little did I know just how much that would hold me back in the future.

      Now, a generation later, my sons are growing up in a technical world much different from mine, but still, success is elusive. There are now cell phones, tablets, laptops, watches, and vision goggles that provide 24-7 access to media and entertainment. While these devices make our lives more convenient and useful, they also provide a source of endless distraction and anxiety. The constant stream of music, news, social chatter, and information access has actually made it harder to focus on bettering our lives. How then, can we focus on anything?

      The shift created by the Internet and wireless communications has provided youth constant access to media and ideas that few parents can control. Constant negative influences from the media focus on sex, greed, scarcity, and lack of opportunity. Parents are increasingly unable to manage all the demands of modern life and still provide the positive guidance they intended for their children.

      What is the result? I believe it is a world in which we now have an epidemic of low self-esteem. This lack of self-esteem has evolved into social and personal problems that are expressed as addiction, distraction, poverty, and consumerism. These problems are actually just self-sabotage and frustration caused by self-loathing. When people have a low self-concept, they engage in activities that expose these negative beliefs such as abusing drugs, alcohol, food, sex, work, and shopping or even turning to violence and crime.

      To counteract these problems, we must first address this lack of personal confidence, so that it won’t be unleashed in self-defeating behaviors. Too many people have no belief in their own abilities. Too many people blame others for their circumstances. Too many people extract revenge on a society they blame for their problems.

      At the root of many social problems are beliefs in myths that are not true. These myths are supported by the media and make us easy to manipulate. On the bright side, once these myths are debunked, the pitfalls they create can be avoided, and one of the biggest myths portrayed to us is that of the rare chosen one. This myth keeps us stuck with no hope of fulfilling our true greater destiny.

      Once we escape this myth, we become free to develop ourselves and fulfill our dreams. This takes dedication, skill development, knowledge, and action. When you begin to take action, a path becomes clear, you start to shed fears and doubts, and progressively recreate yourself. Then as one of the new, soon to rise, self-chosen ones, you will need a guide to complete the journey. This book is that guide.

      I begin by discussing the historical myth of the chosen one. First, we will review the mythical rare chosen one portrayed in popular movies and literature. Second, we will dispel this myth—these are not true chosen ones because they cannot exist without the missing element that is possessed by real chosen ones—they choose themselves.

      Finally, we will show that anyone can become one of the many self-chosen ones. The path these chosen ones take will be made clear, and the core components will be revealed. The psychological frameworks and attainment levels will guide you through the distractions and pitfalls along the journey.

      LET’S BEGIN THAT JOURNEY NOW

      PART 1

       THE PATH OF THE CHOSEN ONES

      1

      MYTH

       THE MYTH OF THE CHOSEN ONE

       So why are so many still waiting to be chosen? We wait for a chance at success or fame hoping to get that big break by being chosen by others.

      Throughout history, we have heard the legendary stories of the mythical chosen one. In these fables, the chosen one is born of or chosen for greatness, success, or adventure. Often, the chosen one is not even aware of their potential until some event forces it to come forward. Then, they rise and fulfill some immense service to the world.

      These legends of history are even embodied in religion and ancient books such as the Bible or Aesop’s Fables. The Jews were considered the chosen people by some accounts. It could also be argued that God chose Jesus. There is a lot of choosing going on in these stories, but only for a few.

      In more recent times, theater and movies have kept this myth alive. The wizard Harry Potter from the books and movies was recognized as chosen for greatness due to his unknown ability to have seemingly defeated Voldemort. In the story, the great, evil wizard Voldemort came to kill Harry when he was just an infant. Both his parents were killed in the battle, but Voldemort lost almost all of his powers and fled terribly weakened while Harry sustained only a lightning-shaped scar on his head. What a conversation starter the scar must have been.

      Luke Skywalker from the movie Star Wars was chosen to become a Jedi Knight and save the galaxy from the evil Galactic Empire. According to the movie, after the demise of the Jedi Knights, Luke was chosen by one of the last remaining Jedis to train as one and fulfill his destiny of toppling the evil Empire. Unknown to Luke, his father served the Empire as a Sith. He was certainly born for this job! After many battles, misgivings, and mistakes, Luke becomes a Jedi, and he destroys the dreaded Death Star weapon.

      The mythical chosen one is supposedly instilled at birth or by another with special virtues and skills that set them apart from everyone else. Everything then comes naturally to them, and they require little effort to accomplish great tasks. They feel no fear but may initially doubt their abilities. They have intellect and wisdom far above our own. They may not have acquired greatness yet, but it’s just a matter of time until they do. How can we all sign СКАЧАТЬ