New Thought and the Will to Power

One of the first things I noticed when I began investigating New Thought spiritual communities was the connection with a full spectrum of philosophy and religion. One teacher expressed it as incorporating the common thread through the history of theology and philosophy across all major World Religions. I have encountered this connection time and time again as I consume ideas from different philosophers and theologians ranging from Plato to Buber. There always seems to be that common essence of truth no matter what the style or perspective of the writer.

Some recent study in Existentialism has given me more exposure to Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. I did not expect to find a connection there, as I was just curious about Existentialism, but as usual profound ideas seem to connect back to some representation in New Thought.

Nietzsche's Will to Power is something I misunderstood until looking closer. I was a typical human in that I heard bits and snatches of the idea and formed a superficial opinion. I thought it had to do with a misguided theory about how the ultimate goal of humanity or at least the most laudable goal was to rule the world.

Actually it goes something like this. The Will to Power is really a Will to Self Esteem or Self Expression. It is a positive earlier expression of self actualization, which was developed more fully in the 20th century by psychologists such as Maslow. It corresponds to Nietzsche's concept of Master Morality vs. Slave Morality.

Master Morality is the positive expression of who we are that is expansive, confident, magnanimous and teleological. Slave Morality is a shrinking, limited, negative self concept that runs on reactions to "they" who are in power. Master Morality, or the Will to Power, is the spontaneous, natural expression of who we are meant to be as a self-actualizing individual human being.

This expression is a secular expression of similar New Thought concepts that encourage us to connect with the inner Christ (or Buddha, or Brahman, or pick your favorite language) to guide the true expression of individuality in a prosperous, altruistic and self-actualizing manner.