STATE vs. STATUS
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First things first...
People come and ask me, 'Swamiji, how to impress others? How to influence people?' I tell them, 'First influence yourself! Integrate yourself. Believe that you can influence yourself and others.'
The moment you influence yourself, you integrate yourself, you become such a power, such energy; then, people can't resist you, they will just follow you! Anybody whose consciousness has become 'a leader' will just start leading. Whatever profession you may be in, wherever you are, whether you are in a business or in a job, if your consciousness is to lead, you will lead irrespective of anything. If your consciousness is 'to follow', even if you are in the CEO chair, you will be following somebody, imitating somebody. 'Leader' or 'follower' is based on consciousness. It is based on the state of your mind, not the status of your chair. 'Leader' is a state, not a status. Please be very clear: people who have achieved the status without achieving the state can never stay in the status. Even if you are in the status without being in the state, you will not be able to enjoy it. If you are in the state, the status will just follow you. Even if you don't have the status, you will be enjoying your life.
So it is necessary to achieve the state rather than the status. Status will just follow you, if you are in the state.
Paramahamsa From Subconsciousness to Superconsciousness 15 Mar 2005, San Gabriel, USA