Few politicians subscribe to analysis (46:25) Psychoanalysis.
Well perhaps not psychoanalysis: but might be sensible for politicians in power who can direct the economy &   
take us into wars. A good idea to have a little self awareness?

The opposite seems to be true. To have the ambition of power, then the achievement of power –  a lack of awareness is essential. Personal power through self awareness roots us in ourselves with an understanding of our helplessness and lack of power. Counter-intuitively, this gives us the best chance to suffer well with our flawed personalities.

Political power is a way of avoiding this painful state by having power over others: rather than ourselves. It is a distraction, a solution, to avoid a deeply uncomfortable powerless relationship to ourselves. It can never stop.

Politicians who stand for something are seen & judged by the populations of the world. When their approach works they are lauded. When it doesn’t, they become unpopular and more significantly aren’t able to give the approach up even when failing. They become dogmatic, and have to be ousted. They are more what they stand for than who they are.

This is the human: creating strategies to navigate the world: even when those strategies stop working and fail us. With awareness there is a possibility of an update, or renegotiation with ourselves. But even with intention & energy we struggle and resist.

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