The Act of Imposing Your Will

I’ve wanted to discuss the topic of imposing a certain will, perspective, or belief on others for quite some time due to the relevancy of this topic in our current culture. I see there is a great polarity marked with tension and volatile emotions surrounding what is best for the collective. There are people who feel justified, even self-righteous, to proclaim they know what is best for others. If you declare your own sovereignty and do not follow their will, they will descend on you with a warped illusion that you are part of the problem for standing in your truth and power. It is easy for one person or side to think they know what is best for all. The reality is that no one is ever certain about what is best for anyone else. We can only be certain about what is best for our own, unique, and personal experience. To proclaim one solution or will is ideal and all encompassing ignores the needs of the individual in totality. Regardless if there is any truth to this idea does not matter.

Imposing a set will on others takes away their freedom and power to choose. Regardless of the guise that a certain solution is what’s best from a moralistic high ground, this sabotages the ability of capable people to think and create for themselves. Contrary to popular belief, no one, credentialed or not, is authorized to tell you what is best and right for you. We are free and not subject to the command of others regardless of their expressed need to protect us. Those with complete mental and psychological faculties of sound judgment are allowed choose without infringement or pressure from outside powers. When we pressure those with our will, we constrict and confine their being to fit a mold or cage we’ve designed for them. This act is neither beneficial for them or us.

Although it can seem morally justified to impose our will on others, this very act is rooted in egoism and not true benevolence. True benevolence does not require power or control over someone’s free will or life choices. Only our ego and self-centeredness will disguise good will for all with good will for us. Next time you feel called to impose your will on someone, consider the following self-reflective questions to determine if your will is truly best for someone and whether you have the authority to determine what is truly best for that personal situation.

1. Where is the act of imposing my will on someone coming from, my soul or ego?

2. Why do I feel imposing my will on someone is best for them?

3. Is imposing my will on someone best for me?

4. What do I personally gain from imposing my will?

5. Am I in the unique, personalized experience of the person I am imposing my will on?

6. How do I know what is best for me is best for them?

7. Why am I an authority figure in this situation and who gave me that authority?

8. Do I feel I am better, more intelligent, more credentialed, or more powerful than the person I am imposing my will on?

9. Is this person of sound mental and psychological judgment, capable of making their own decisions?

10. Am I taking away someone’s power to choose for themselves?

11. Does my will impose on someone’s freedom?

12. Am I being pressure from external sources to impose my will on others?

13. Do I respond well when someone imposes their will on me?

-Jaclyn