Finding Freedom: Beliefs in Question
Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media; Film: The Banker, Two Quotes & One Question
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Wealth Beyond Money Top 5
1) One Wealth Beyond Money Idea
True freedom extends beyond the absence of physical constraints; it includes the autonomy to embrace one's beliefs without fear of repression or persecution. It's the liberty to express convictions, to challenge what is generally accepted, and to pursue personal truths.
Greater awareness of all the options available to you or perhaps unconsciously accepting beliefs and assumptions that restrict your freedom then making a different choice are areas where you can still expand your freedom even if you are physically free.
Here are some examples of belief traps for you to consider:
The belief that you should be someone other than yourself
The belief that you must conform to a moral code created by someone else.
The belief that governments perform socially useful functions that deserve your support.
The belief that the government can be counted upon to carry out a social reform you favor.
The belief that the government is so powerful that it can prevent you from being free.
The belief that other people can prevent you from being free.
The belief that your rights will make you free. You’re in the trap any time you count on anything other than an individual’s self-interest to cause him to give you what you want.
The belief that you must create better conditions in society before you can be free. You can’t change the fate of a nation, but you can do a great deal to make sure you’re not affected adversely by it.
The belief that there are compelling social issues that require your participation.
The belief that time, effort, and money spent in the past must be considered when making a decision in the present.
The belief that the cost of getting out of a bad situation, any uncomfortable situation that restricts your freedom, is too great to consider.
The belief that your information is complete.
There are other beliefs that can be included what’s important is to notice the resistance that comes up that may challenge the existing belief and be willing to test what may happen if you make a different choice in your beliefs.
2) One Thing I Read
Dark Persuasion A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media by Joel Dimsdale
This book traces the evolution of brainwashing from its beginnings in torture and religious conversion into the age of neuroscience and social media. When Pavlov introduced scientific approaches, his research was enthusiastically supported by Lenin and Stalin, setting the stage for major breakthroughs in tools for social, political, and religious control.
Tracing these developments through many of the past century’s major conflicts, Dimsdale narrates how when World War II erupted, governments secretly raced to develop drugs for interrogation. Brainwashing returned to the spotlight during the Cold War in the hands of the North Koreans and Chinese. In response, a huge Manhattan Project of the Mind was established to study memory obliteration, indoctrination during sleep, and hallucinogens.
Cults used the techniques as well. Nobel laureates, university academics, intelligence operatives, criminals, clerics, and social media companies are all part of this story—one that is still being written today.
3) One Thing I Saw
"The Banker" is a film based on the true story of two African American entrepreneurs, Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, who devised a bold plan to overcome racial barriers in the 1960s banking industry. Unable to secure loans due to racial discrimination, they enlist the help of a working-class white man, Matt Steiner, to act as the face of their business while they operate from behind the scenes.
With Steiner as their front-man, they begin purchasing real estate and banks in predominantly white neighborhoods, challenging the segregationist practices of the time. Their success in the financial world disrupts the status quo, but their venture faces increasing risks as they navigate the complex dynamics of race, money, and power.
As their scheme becomes increasingly ambitious, tensions rise, and they find themselves in a high-stakes battle against systemic racism and the threat of exposure. The film explores themes of racial inequality, ambition, and the pursuit of the American Dream while shedding light on the untold stories of African American pioneers in the business world.
4) Two Quotes
"The best slave is the one who thinks he is free, when he is not."
“Life will present you with people and circumstances to reveal where you are not free.”
5) One Question For You
Where in my life am I aware my freedom is limited and what can I do about it?
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Disclaimer
Not financial, investing or tax advice. This newsletter is for information, entertainment and education purposes. Nothing in here is investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. Talk to your professional advisors. Do your own research.