At this moment I want you to understand one thing: it is impossible to become free from one influence without becoming subject to another. The whole thing, all work on oneself, consists in choosing the influence to which you wish to subject yourself, and actually falling under this influence. And for this it is necessary to know beforehand which influence is the more profitable.

if we don’t direct our own thoughts, we’ll fall under the influence of those who would condition us to behave in the way they desire.

Most of the problem we have is that we allow who we are to take over our senses and behaviour at times

The real beginning of influence comes as others sense you are being influenced by them — when they feel understood by you — that you have listened deeply and sincerely, and that you are open. But most people are too vulnerable emotionally to listen deeply — to suspend their agenda long enough to focus on understanding before they communicate their own ideas.

While everyone is influenced and persuaded daily in various ways, vulnerability to influence fluctuates. The ability to fend off persuaders is reduced when one is exhausted, rushed, stressed, uncertain, lonely, indifferent, uninformed, aged, very young, unsophisticated, ill, brain- damaged, drugged, drunk, distracted, fatigued, frightened, or very dependent.

Once we begin to want, we fall under the jurisdiction of the Devil.

Self-acceptance is hard for many of us. There is a voice inside that is constantly judging, first ourselves and then others.

It is difficult to undo our own damage, and to recall to our presence that which we have asked to leave.

until it came to dominate our lives.

But all the things that God would have us do are hard for us to do — remember that — and hence, he oftener commands us than endeavors to persuade. And if we obey God, we must disobey ourselves; and it is in this disobeying ourselves, wherein the hardness of obeying God consists.

I know it’s hard to grasp at first. I seem to recall I was a bit difficult to convince once. We are accustomed to thinking we know everything. There’s a powerful tendency to just disbelieve anything that doesn’t fit the preconception.

We are so close to the world of work that we can't see what it does to us. We have to rely on outside observers from other times or other cultures to appreciate the extremity and the pathology of our present position.

Then might I exemplify how an influence beyond our control lays its strong hand on every deed which we do, and weaves its consequences into an iron tissue of necessity. (Wakefield)

Few people can resist doing what is universally expected of them. This invisible pressure is more difficult to stand against than individual tyranny.