Internal vs. External Locus IMHO

My husband and I were talking about this topic the other night and I thought I'd share it with you all. I'm going to give the definitions in my own words, but feel free to research it yourself as I found it to be rather interesting. This view is taken from psychology rather than a religious stance so keep that in mind.

If you are a person that operates from the stance on internal locus you would be a person that believes that you are in control of the things that go on around you. If you are need money, you will take responsibility and what needs to be done. You believe that you pretty much control how your life turns out. If you are a person that operates from the stance of external locus you would be a person that believes that God, the gods, the fates--essentially everything determines your outcome except for you. If you need money you will pray for it, believe God for it, even tithe for it, but it may never cross your mind to stop spending more than you make or go get another job.

This conversation was really interesting in that we found that people can normally be sorted more into one category than the other. My husband is probably more external locus, although he seems to be changing and I am more internal locus. He probably prays more than I do and I think he always has. I do pray, but it is usually to give thanks and that's about it. I rarely pray that God will do a particular thing for me, because I generally see that I have been given the tools to do whatever it is myself. Let me clarify.

I come from a Christian background where I learned to "lean and depend on Jesus" and "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path." Now, generally you were not actually expected to listen to God. I, like many, learned to listen to the preacher and everybody else but God. I have come to the point that I do believe in God, not because I can prove God's existence, but because I just do. Anyway, I believe that we are equipped with everything that we need to heal ourselves, make money/barter/make a living, grow food, etc. yet people are continually praying for these things. I don't believe anyone is solely internal or external, but we tend to be one more than the other. I have also found that these two categories of people tend not to agree. I look at people that are constantly putting things "in God's hands" and wonder if it has a root of laziness. It comes across the same as a child that doesn't want to take responsibility for their lives. Their behavior is found to be acceptable because it is deemed spiritual, but if we change the target from God to a person we would most likely say that they are lazy and irresponsible. When I had migraines all the time I prayed and prayed. No relief. I researched the various causes, adjusted my diet and found relief. I give thanks to God for putting the healing herbs, fruits, and vegetables in the earth to heal me. IMO, the Creator has given us tools, instructions, minds, and spirits to guide us so why do we keep going back looking to the Creator to do it for us. If your 12 year old child came and said, "Mommy, I pooped in my clothes." and waited for you to clean them up and change their clothes you would look at them like they were crazy. Why? Because you taught them how to avoid that situation and at the very least how to handle it if they did have an accident. Either way they shouldn't have to come to you for that particular type of assistance. You have, by that point hopefully, taught that child all they need to know to handle it.

My fear in being more of an internal locus person is that I will intellectualize to the point of loosing my spiritual connection, but I am also terrified of going back to being so much of an external locus that I sit with my hands folded waiting on other things and people to determine my lot in life. I once took a philosophy class and chose as my exam paper to write about free will. I was suppose to choose my stance and defend it. I thought this was going to be easy and clearly stated that I was going to be coming from a Christian standpoint. I was going to use scriptures and everything. LOL Well, let me tell you. If you want to argue that we have freewill, the Bible in context, supports it. If you want to argue that everything is predestined and in God's hands, well the Bible will support that too. You can support both arguments while using the scriptures in context. That realization is what I think began my awakening. I had the right to choose what I was going to believe. I was never afforded such luxuries in childhood and like most sheople (sheep+people) I had no idea what critical thinking was--much less how to utilize it.

I am proof that it is possible to change from one to the other, although I would have to suggest that if you are going to choose a direction I would suggest going from internal to external. People that are of external locus tend to be the passive complainers that wait for someone or something else to change their situations. The internal locus folks loose friends, insight angers and passions, but all the while causing both change and revolution. Sorry that this was so one sided, blame it on my internal locus.

What are your thoughts on this?

Who am I?

I'm a dawta when my father would've rather had a sun. I'm an extraordinarily powerful wombman that thought I was merely somebody's Mama and wife. I am the Priestess of my home and my words are powerful enough to kill, bring life, bless, or curse. I am wise enough to listen more than I speak and grant wisdom to those in need. I am able to bring joy and laughter those I love and protect them from those that mean us no good. I am a wombman. I am the gate keeper for all that enters the universe and have lifted song and prayer for many as they have left the earth realm. I am divine.

What do I believe so far?

1. I believe there is a higher being that created all this stuff we see and don't see and the stuff we know about and don't know about.
2. I believe that either the being is asexual or is represented in both the male and female and thus represents the balance that we see all around us.
3. Although I was raised a Christian I no longer believe that Christianity is an original belief and know that it was plagiarized from ancient Kemetian beliefs.
   
4. I don't believe that religions should be advertised as historical truths if they are not able to be proven with the same standards that all other history is proven.
5. I don't believe that spirituality has to fit into a particular religion.
6. Religions can bring either comfort or conflict or both.
7. I don't think that people should practice religions that don't adequately reflect who they are (ie female, African, etc.)
8. I don't believe that you can experience the creator through the eyes of another. 
9. I believe that we are divinely connected, because we are divinely created.
10. I believe that a knowledge an appreciation for nature is a very necessary part of understanding the Creator. 
11. Any religion the claims to know the Creator, but doesn't teach it's followers to take care of their bodies and the earth is false or at the very least disconnected.
    

Let me be clear...

This is a blog that is going to deal with my journey to spiritual understanding. Due to some truths being race specific, I will make it clear from the beginning that this is for African American eyes only. I don't consider myself racist, but I simply don't feel as though everything should be discussed in mixed company.
Asante, and I hope you enjoy traveling this journey with me.