Power and submission: unlocking the Mind's hidden potential

Accepting boundaries also opens the door to mindfulness. When you stop fighting against what you cannot change, you begin to notice the present moment. This allows for a deeper understanding of your emotions, needs, and true desires. According to a study in the Mindfulness Research Journal (2020), practices of mindful acceptance reduce anxiety levels by 35% and increase overall life satisfaction.

This understanding does not make you passive. On the contrary, it strengthens your ability to act where it truly matters. When you recognize your limits, you free yourself from unnecessary tension and accept reality as it is, without illusions. It is a strategic approach that not only improves your ability to manage your life but also helps you find harmony within it.

Evolutionarily, accepting boundaries has always played an important role. For our ancestors, it was a way to avoid unnecessary risks and conserve resources. Modern humans often forget these lessons, trying to control everything, which leads to chronic stress and burnout. However, by returning to the awareness of our boundaries, we restore inner balance, providing the strength to move forward.

Accepting your boundaries is not weakness. It is a path to clarity, calmness, and genuine inner freedom. It is a choice made by strong people who understand that giving up the struggle against the unchangeable opens the possibility to focus on what truly matters. This is the key to mindfulness: you do not lose yourself but rather find yourself, becoming whole and free. True strength lies in recognizing your limits and using them as a foundation for personal growth.

Why Submission Is Not Weakness

Submission is often seen as a loss of freedom, a sign of weakness, or a denial of one’s identity. However, throughout history, philosophy has regarded it as a powerful tool for inner growth and harmony. It is not capitulation but a conscious act that opens the path to true freedom.

The Stoics taught that true strength lies in the ability to discern what is within your control and what is not. Epictetus stated, "Some things are up to us, and some are not. Accepting this difference is the key to freedom." In this philosophy, submission is not about giving up the fight but about rethinking it. Instead of wasting energy resisting the inevitable, you focus it on what you can change: your thoughts, emotions, and inner state. Accepting the boundaries you cannot overcome does not weaken you—it brings peace and clarity.

Buddhism views submission as a path to liberation from suffering. The pursuit of total control over life, according to Buddha, is a source of fear and disappointment. Letting go of this illusion allows one to find harmony with the world. Submission in the Buddhist sense is the acceptance of one’s vulnerability as a part of life. It provides the strength to let go of the struggle against what cannot be changed and focus on inner growth. It is not a loss of power but a conscious release from unnecessary tension.

Existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre emphasized that submission is not an imposed circumstance but a choice. Even in conditions of limited freedom, a person remains free in their attitude toward what is happening. Submission becomes an act of acknowledging reality and taking responsibility for one’s reaction. It is a form of inner control, where a person decides how to interact with the world without losing their essence.

Evolutionarily, submission served as a means of survival. Recognizing one’s role in a group reduced stress and strengthened social bonds. Today, this mechanism continues to operate at the psychological level: conscious submission in trusting relationships reduces anxiety, activates oxytocin, and strengthens a sense of safety. It is not an act of weakness but a way to create a balance between personal responsibility and trust in others.

Submission is the art of interacting with the world. It requires maturity to understand your boundaries and courage to accept them. It is an act that does not diminish your strength but transforms it. When you stop fighting the inevitable, you free up resources for what truly matters. True strength is manifested not in endless struggle but in the ability to be flexible, mindful, and open to the world.

Submission is not weakness. It is a way to go beyond illusions, accept reality, and find freedom in harmony with yourself. It is a choice made by the strong, who understand that strength lies not in control but in the ability to embrace life as it is while remaining true to oneself.

Part 3: The Evolution of Power and Trust

Chapter 1: Why Our Ancestors Already Knew How It Works

The Evolutionary Roots of Submission and Domination

Why do we continue to submit to leaders and strive for power? Because these mechanisms are the foundation of our survival. They were formed millions of years ago when the struggle for life required a clear division of roles. Submission and domination are not just social constructs but evolutionary tools that helped our species survive and thrive.

In primitive tribes, hierarchy was not just convenient but vital. Leaders assumed responsibility for the group’s protection, decision-making, and resource distribution. Subordinates trusted their authority, reducing internal conflicts and ensuring coordinated actions. This interaction was based on biological mechanisms that remain active today.

On a neurological level, submission and domination are governed by different systems. Dominant individuals exhibit high levels of testosterone, which enhances risk-taking and confidence, making them ideal leaders in extreme situations. Subordinates, on the other hand, experience increased levels of oxytocin, which fosters trust and a sense of belonging. According to a study in Nature Neuroscience (2015), in situations requiring hierarchy, dominant individuals activate brain regions linked to decision-making, while subordinates activate areas that reduce anxiety through trust.

This balance allowed groups to function as cohesive units. Leadership provided stability and coordination, while submission helped prevent chaos and unnecessary conflict. As a result, groups with clearly defined roles survived and passed these behavioral patterns to their descendants.

With the transition to agricultural societies, hierarchies became more complex. Power shifted from individual leaders to institutions—rulers, religious figures, and military leaders. However, the biological foundation remained unchanged. We still seek strong, confident leaders who provide a sense of security and are willing to trust them to avoid uncertainty.

Today, these mechanisms manifest not only in politics or workplaces but also in relationships, teams, and even social media. We continue to follow those who inspire confidence and submit to those we trust. This is neither weakness nor coincidence—it is a part of our nature that has been shaped over millennia.

The evolutionary roots of submission and domination help us understand why these roles are so powerful. They show that power and submission are not about weakness or oppression but about harmony, trust, and survival. While conditions have changed, these mechanisms remain central to our behavior, helping us find balance between control and acceptance.

How These Mechanisms Aided Survival

Submission and domination are ancient mechanisms that developed throughout human evolution to ensure group survival. Though these roles may seem oppositional, they function as parts of a unified system designed to minimize risks, strengthen social bonds, and increase the likelihood of success in complex and dangerous environments. They are embedded in our biology and continue to influence behavior even in the modern world.