Shannon's Journal Discussion Thread, Vol. 8

[Johannesbrst]

I was a bit surprised by the choice of phrasing in the quote above. Is there en inherent value of making the process hard for the user to develop into a self-respecting and secure man and leader? If parenting could create this type of person, would this be the way that we wished the parents reasoned regarding of how to carry out the upbringing of that child?

I just want to challenge the possible preconception thst may lay behind  the idea of "hard-core is needed here". Sure, there is a need to venture out into your fears to grow into a better person, but I believe you are more likely to succeed in doing so when you feel supported by a sense of self-compssion, humility and a strong sense of connection to the world around you - qualities I believe can be lost if you are doing it from a somewhat brutal standpoint toward yourself. 

The people I've met that I've trusted the most as leaders have developed a strong sense of security by keeping facing their fears and staying present while doing so, but have also kept a strong connection with other people around them, and have been able to stay empathetic to themselves and to others. The way we treat ourselves shape our world, and instilling a brutal perspective on your fears and demons, will also shape the way we look at the world when we come out on the other side. 

I may be mistaken in seeing the end goal here, and can perhaps have misunderstood your intentions but the strongest and most respected leaders I've seen have had a great sense of their own abilities but still have known that no man is an island, and that life is a very interdependant journey.  In some ways I feel that perspective is at odds with the world view that acts as a basis for some of the definitions of the "Ascendant Alpha".

I belive we look up to people who we can relate to and find inspiration from to advance in our own journeys. If that person is coming from a place where "the best way of growth is the brutal one" I believe some of that will be lost in the eyes of others, and degrading the possibility to positively inspire others to their own journeys of growth.

Growth can already be brutal as it is, I don't think we need to make the motivation to face it brutal as well.

The goal of AM v7 is to result in an Ascended Alpha.  It does not require a hardcore brutal ass kicking for everyone to achieve that.  But for those who will not respond otherwise, it will be what they experience, because this program is not going to let you hide, avoid, etc.

If you cooperate, if you make the moves to grow, then you will get your ass kicked by the growth process.  If you resist, fight it, try to avoid, hide, etc. then the program will kick your ass until the pain of the ass-kicking is greater then your fear and you choose to grow instead.  Getting your ass kicked by growth is what we also know as challenging oneself beyond our perceived limitations to become better than we were yesterday.  There's nothing wrong with it.  It's not harmful.  Many athletes and soldiers do this every day.  

One of the biggest problems men had/have with AMv6 is that they can choose not to grow.  If that happens, then they blame me for their choice, because they spent $$$ and denied themselves success.  I don't like that.  So this time, you're going to get you asses kicked, by the program, or by the growth.  Because I want you to get what you paid for, and because I want you to succeed and grow.

Does that make more sense?

Yes it does, thank you for the clarification!