self-image of an over-confident person: "I am a highly motivated and capable individual." Alternatively we may have, the self-image of an optimist: "I am not a bad person, so I’m probably a relatively good person." Or perhaps the self-image of a combative person: "I do not tolerate any mistakes. My sense of justice will not be defeated by anyone."

"This is the kind of person I am." The images we have toward ourselves do not change easily. That is because we, by ourselves, develop our minds so that we can only think in that way. Further, we build our lives according to our self-images.

Even if that is the truth, you should not forget that you are not all about your self-image.

There may be a gap between a person’s self-image and how other people view that person. A person who highly values themselves may not be recognized in that way by others. On the contrary, a person who is hard on themselves may leave a better impression than they

think to others.

However, what I want to emphasize here is not the gap between evaluation from others and self-image.

Instead, what I mean is not only those who deprecate themselves but also those who highly evaluate their ability possess much larger potential powers than they think. Each individual harbors sufficient power so that there is not even a need to compare their ability with others’.

Draw Out Your Potential Powers

We exist as souls that have eternal life. Our souls harbor wisdom and power which have been accumulated through the experiences of numerous lives, even though the wisdom and power may not be manifested.

The fact that potential powers lie in each individual has been proven countless times in the study sessions of GLA.

For instance, some people always had problems with human relationships; they were isolated both during their work and away from their job, and they were unable to interact effectively with others. As if they were reborn, they have come to accept others, establish bonds of trust, and lead their lives with renewed human relationships.

Some who had no self-confidence and who lived a life dependent on others have gained confidence in carrying out their works till the end. They now build their life steadily as if they had been accountable from the beginning.

Some had a tendency of looking down and controlling others, and produced problems. As if a different person, they have come to exert real leadership, by listening to the words of others, drawing out their aspirations, and collaborating in resonance.

All these people resolved their problems by themselves and produced a new reality. In these facts we see clear

manifestations of wisdom and power. It is because they are creating positive realities that they were not able to produce before.

Such wisdom and power are not something that “did not exist” within them before; they “had existed” from the beginning. The only change was that the potential powers were manifested by the guidance of the Study of the Soul.

What is certain is that if we continue the same way of life as before, such changes will not happen. The same way of thinking, the same interaction with others, the same way of starting things, the same intensity of effort, and the same way of preparation will lead to the same reality as before.

What kind of new step will draw out your inner potential? Now by all means, I would like you to think about this, and try it by yourself. It is none other than belief in our inner potential that enables us to change.

Preliminary translation as of October 9, 2015

GLA member-volunteers translated Takahashi Sensei’s words.
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