Psychology
How to Become an Alpha Being
L F Peterson Ph.D. (C) Copyright 2026
Problems with health, concentration, memory, and relationships are easily traced to personality traits ingrained from birth. Unconscious habits are responsible for many of the stress related problems we face as adults. Stress causes high levels of cortisol impairing memory and decreasing brain volume. As you will soon realize, Alpha Beings seek personal growth and illumination by overcoming internal conflict. Self-defeating traits passed on by parents, peers and significant others will soon be revealed for immediate removal.
Explanations for human personality include astrological birth signs, the supernatural, the size and shape of the head, the human physique, and genetics. This mix includes birth trauma, birth chronology, dreams, and nature versus nurture. In modern terms, personality is understood as a complex pattern of habitual traits, temperaments, emotions, and behaviors adopted from early childhood experiences. Unconscious habits, left unattended, prevent the emergence of Alpha leadership traits. The Greek philosopher, Plato, used the analogy of the cave to describe human conditioning. The Myth of the Cave tells of people chained since birth to walls inside a cave. The chained prisoners could see only shadows of reality reflected on walls when objects moved outside the cave opening. Plato goes on to tell how one prisoner breaks free from the chains and achieves freedom outside the cave. Slowly, the renegade realizes the profound implications and realities existing beyond the habitual shadows of conditioned ignorance. So will you.
The story by Plato illustrates servitude to habitual ways of thinking, feeling, acting and believing. The cave prisoners were conditioned to relate to reality in terms of shadows. Conditioning is a common method employed to train young elephants. The Mahout secures a young elephant to a tree by binding the elephant’s leg with a strong chain. After days of unsuccessful attempts to break free the elephant stops trying. The lesson becomes so ingrained adult elephants can be held in place with a small ornamental chain fitted around their leg. They have been taught a limitation. Consider the example of sturgeon who typically eat smaller fish. A glass enclosure filled with small fish was placed inside a sturgeon aquarium. Attempts to eat the smaller fish were blocked by the glass. When the smaller fish were released from the enclosure the sturgeon no longer tried to eat the smaller fish. Like elephants, sturgeon learn limitations. Children also learn limitations through conditional regard. As you will soon see, Alpha personalities overcome past experiences to achieve liberty and self-determination.
Gandhi saw human potential as the center of a circle without a circumference. Potential is inhibited by fear, anxiety, prejudice and defensiveness. Ego defense mechanisms elicit biological and psychological stressors working against personal growth and health. The central nervous system follows paths of least resistance. Since denial and rationalization require less cognitive energy, they are employed at the expense of free will and personal growth.
The habitual pattern of repeatedly following the path of least resistance resists change until we become aware of internal traits working against us. As the popular slogan suggests, there is no gain without pain. Plato believed right will always be selected over wrong when the implications of both were understood. The strategic journey into the realm of unconscious habits fosters a cornucopia of valuable treasures contributing to composure, discernment, sovereignty, and confidence. Like a snake shedding its annual skin, eliminating unproductive traits allows newly adopted Alpha traits to emerge.
The renegade in Plato’s myth escaped the chains of conditioning to realize freedom. Alpha personalities break free from habit to realize influence, respect, and cooperation from meaningful social interactions. Mindfulness is key to reducing stress, fear and anxiety. Alpha Beings are made, not born. A fulfilling journey leading to personal enlightenment and transformation awaits. If you desire greater influence and fulfillment from others, read on.
Identifying and eliminating counterproductive traits is essential for personal growth. Alpha Beings achieve influence and cooperation by reprogramming thoughts, feelings, actions and beliefs. As a wise teacher once proclaimed, cultivate habits we wish to master us. When habits validate success, confidence and peace of mind are inevitable. The following analogy of the Buddha sculptor provides insight into the Alpha journey.
An young lad from a humble farming community sidestepped the family tradition and began fashioning Buddha statues from granite cast aside from clearing fields. The granite statues displayed such realism, they defied rational explanation. Many farmers were convinced the lad and his Buddha statues possessed magical qualities. Soon demand for the statues grew throughout the kingdom. Artists of unequal skill became dismayed. Envy reared its ugly head. Artists began insisting the sculptor be shunned for not following the family farming trade. The devious artists conspired with a sympathetic magistrate to demand the sculptor stop making statues. Their hidden agenda became obvious when they insisted the lad divulge the secrets behind his amazing skill. The young Buddha sculptor had no recourse but to come before the magistrate. Imagine greedy artists forming a corolla around the court hoping to purloin the secret from the young lad. When the magistrate demanded the method behind the perfect Buddha statues, the young lad shrugged and stated the secret involved nothing more than chiseling away all granite not conforming to the likeness of Buddha. This was not the secret fellow artists wanted to hear. The lesson is priceless. There can be no doubt Alpha Beings are made, not born. Following the wisdom of the Buddha sculptor, removing unproductive thoughts, feelings, actions and beliefs provides Alpha efficacy. Awareness to personality traits promises profound insight and personal growth. As Carl Jung suggested, when we look outside, we dream. When we look inside, we awaken. When inspiration and desire for growth merge, Alpha awakening leads to transformation.
Forest squirrels scamper along branches to hide nuts they find. The behavior is amusing but problematic. Science shows squirrels forget where they hide the nuts. The instinct fails to compliment winter storage. If only squirrels could alter instincts. Fortunately, humans have the ability to change behavior. Human awareness blooms like a beautiful lotus flower reflecting petals of transformation. Feedback to traits encourages positive changes in self-esteem. In reviewing the following traits, learn to identify behaviors causing stress, anxiety and interpersonal conflict. Mindfulness ensures fulfilling Alpha interactions with others. Have fun and enjoy.
The unconscious mind is far too powerful to be ignored lest weeds entangle it with misguided habits.Thoughts, feelings, actions and beliefs are shaped from infancy. Simply put, society attacks early while children are helpless to protest. Consider the famous experiment performed by Watson where a young lad was taught to fear a white rat. Each time the white rat was presented to the boy, the rat was accompanied by a loud noise. The pairing soon led the boy to develop a phobic reaction. Merely seeing a picture of a white rat caused anxiety. Imagine the implications for life and learning. Experience creates ingrained personality traits. Productive experiences lead to pleasure. Painful experiences lead to defensive reactions. Because personality traits take refuge in the unconscious, we believe we are exercising free will when we are exercising memories. Consider the example of hysterical blindness. The patient is unable to acknowledge their blindness is a response to a traumatic event. With therapeutic intervention, many patients learn to regain their sight. Remaining blind to personality traits prevents us from growth and happiness. Children left alone in a room with toys engaged in normal play. Devious experimenters subsequently entered the room and began playing with the toys in a destructive manner. After the experimenters left the room the children began abusing the toys in a similar fashion as the experimenters. This modeling of behavior shows early examples leave lasting impressions for adults. We become what we experience. Anger, denial, prejudice and extremism are examples of faulty social conditioning. As the philosopher, Whitehead, once observed, we cannot step in the same stream twice. Change is inevitable and essential for successful adaptation. We cannot change what we cannot understand. Adopting behaviors suited to current circumstances ensures efficient problem solving. CAT scans reveal we act before we think. Imagine the implications for the early development of personality traits. Unconscious habits frequently run afoul of growth. Mindfulness opens doors for Alpha traits to emerge. Becoming an Alpha Being.
Personality is a cultural mask for social control. Where some seek control through force, others seek control through persuasion. Where some strive for control through facts and information, others strive for control through alliance and submission. Understanding control allows insight into human motivation. Consider the benefits in looking two cars ahead in traffic. Accidents can be anticipated. Similarly, interpersonal pitfalls can be anticipated and conflicts avoided. Control over consequences leads to influence and cooperation.
As Tolstoy observed, we change when our lives become so disagreeable we have no other option. Personal change happens when we painfully feel the need. Alpha Beings learn behavior is an extension of early conditional regard by parents, peers and significant others. Control the action and you control the consequence. This may seem obvious, but cognitive science shows the way we behave towards others predicts how others will behave towards us. When we act with Alpha traits, we take incredible steps towards rewarding encounters with others.
Respecting the personal journey of others without malice or prejudice is essential. An interesting experiment in control involved two monkeys in a vertical cage. The cages were separated by a wire floor. One monkey had a lever. Pushing the lever stopped the experimental shock. The second monkey also had a lever. When its lever was pushed the experimental shock was not stopped. The difference in the consequences for control are fascinating. The monkey with control over the shock developed parasympathetic ulcers. The monkey with no control over the shock remained ulcer free and soon ignored the inconvenience. The lesson involves anticipatory need for control. When we feel the need to control others, we invariably generate negative consequences for our personal health. It is unhealthy to seek coercive control over others. Alpha Beings express traits others will respect and emulate. As the adage suggests, no bird flies too high when it does so with its own wings. Seeking to change others by challenging, blocking or employing discounting maneuvers leads to aggressive consequences. Of all behaviors undermining cooperation, anger prevails as the number one misguided passion. Anger revenges the possessed more than the recipient. Anger, violence and rage are emotional winds extinguishing candles of the mind. Alpha Beings reject negative emotional energy. Alpha Beings understand threats to personal control lead to adolescent consequences. Confronting anger with anger is pouring gasoline on an open flame. Since Alpha Beings seek influence and cooperation, behaviors leading to unwanted consequences are avoided. Alpha Beings understand the world is not fair and do not expect others will behave in predictable manners. Alpha Beings do not insist others will make them happy or fulfilled. Alpha Beings realize everyone has a right to their personal journey. Encouraging common ground for agreement becomes the prevailing goal for cooperation.
Avoiding negative consequences is seen in nature. When food makes animals sick, they instinctively avoid it. This is known as biological preparedness. The negative association aids in future survival. Although humans lack instincts, we are able to learn from our mistakes. As the popular maxim suggests, to continue doing the same negative thing and expecting a different result makes little sense. To avoid undesirable consequences, we identify the cause. Like the Buddha sculptor, chiseling away negative behavioral traits reveals the Alpha Being residing within.
The mind is described as an iceberg where the majority of our traits reside underwater beyond conscious view. Within the unconscious resides an ongoing internal dialogue. The dialogue displays a never ending cacophony of voices. Attempts to listen to the inner dialogue include hypnosis and word association. Other methods include Rorschach inkblot images, thematic apperception, card sorting, sentence completion, draw a person, and eye dilation. An easier method involves mindful meditation. If you have awakened with a popular tune playing in your mind, you realize how the mind becomes programmed. If you watch a movie and find your emotions piqued with certain scenes, consider the music associated with the scene. Clever musicians realize the power of music to manipulate mood. We are continually being programmed to think, feel, act and believe throughout our lives.
There is a silent observer in the mind responsible for changes in attitudes and behavior. The silent observer effects placebo recoveries when cures fall in line with expectations. The silent observer emanates from the reticular activating system responsible for arousal. Negative expectations lead to negative consequences. Unless expectations are congruent with the silent observer, positive change cannot take place. The silent observer is a self-correcting mechanism seeking to optimize ideals. When positive expectations are present, the silent observer motivates us to bring about positive results.
In reading this self-help handbook, expect successful outcomes. The information will lead to positive consequences in your life and the lives of those with whom you come into contact. The decision for change must be personal and never coerced for the silent observer to become activated. Read on. Your life is about to dramatically improve.
Angry – – I blame others for the way I feel!
Aliases: Blamer, Bully, Hot Head, Defiant, Argumentative, Hateful, Indignant, Irritable, Outraged, Turbulent, Splenetic, Fuming, Galled, Infuriated, Choleric, Resentful. Exasperated, Annoyed, Belligerent, Caustic, Wrathful and Cranky. Behavior: The most basic and odious emotion confronting feelings of helplessness is rage. Anger involves tenacious feeling of displeasure and annoyance when someone or something is perceived as bad, wrong or threatening. Anger is a conditioned thought process from early childhood caused from blocked goals and aspirations. When expectations are not met, the knee jerk reaction becomes outrage. Consider children throwing tantrum tantrums in markets because candy is denied. Focusing on resentment and revenge, Angry personalities blame feelings and shortcomings on external circumstances. Unrealistic expectations include believing the world should be easy, others should be generous and fair, and being loved and admired is an entitlement. Unfulfilled struggles for power and domination contribute to anger, sarcasm and criticism as a means for removing the annoyance. Behind anger are feelings of inferiority and loss of control.
The neurotic believes something should be forthcoming because it is wanted or desired. When thoughts involve shoulds, oughts or musts, hostility soon follows. Why should on yourself? Rational steps to remove irritants are sacrificed to resentment and rage. Angry personalities pout and stew in confused thinking. Defensive projection and blaming becomes the unavoidable consequence. Anxiety escalates into moralizing and denigration of others to win cynical arguments. Regression to earlier stages of emotional development include rebellion for authority, temper tantrums, and sulking. Displacement of resentment is seen in every schoolyard bully. The likely culprit is frustration with family dynamics. Anger begets anger. Parents who abuse their children are programming future bullies.
Anger frequently erupts from blocked ideas and proposals. No one appreciates being blocked. Alpha Beings encourage cooperation to dissuade anger. When someone cuts into your lane while driving, consider slowing up and to let them in. The emotional difference is profound. Cooperation is key to peace of mind. Consider anger as grasping a hot rock with the intention of tossing it towards someone else. Opinions expressed by others are merely opinions and are not cause for emotional disharmony. Everyone has a personal journey and a right to their opinion. Becoming angry over opinions is passion out of control. Misplaced passions are like riding wild horses and getting tossed from the saddle. A single moment of mindful patience prevents hours of remorse. Anger releases toxic chemicals into the blood stream causing headaches, tense muscles, hypertension and high blood pressure. Extreme anger and rage was behind the infamous University tower shooting. Gambling debts, bad grades and family quarrels led Charles Whitman to stab his mother and wife to death. He subsequently took rifles and ammunition to the Austin, Texas university tower and in ninety minutes killed sixteen people while injuring an additional thirty-one. In short, he snapped. Think of the needless lives sacrificed in the name of rage. AMIABLE Alpha Beings emphasize friendly and cooperative expressions of behavior while seeking to help others. Accepting personal responsibility for circumstances is essential. Thoughts influence behavior, and behavior subsequently influences thoughts. It is difficult to remain angry while smiling. The next time someone frustrates you, try smiling. You will immediately notice the difference in attitude. With anger we grow smaller. With forgiveness, we grow beyond our stature. The old adage of winning the battle and losing the war is appropriate when dealing with angry outbursts. Fighting fire with fire is a losing strategy. Alpha Beings understand it is wise to ignore emotional outbursts and focus on solutions to common goals. Mindfulness means learning not to take anger personally. Empathy trumps sympathy. Alpha Beings express confidence while showing they are listening. They are keen to determine the source of anger. Alpha Beings express apologies gracefully. They fully understand to speak while angry is to make the best speech you will forever regret. Is anger always neurotic or unjustified? Absolutely not. Characterizations of neurotic personality traits in this handbook are deliberately exaggerated for maximum awareness. Sometimes righteous indignation is justified. Consider feelings of anger if passed over for a promotion because education is lacking. It hurts. Consider how channeling the anger can serve as motivation for returning to school to earn a degree or to become proficient in a respective subject area. Righteous indignation can lead to positive consequences. Learning new skills is an excellent way to convert anger into benefits.
Anger, thou twisted maze,
residing thou beyond mere gaze,
Ensconced sour within the heart,
robbing glee of precious part,
Reserved once for love like wine,
Cherished without thought of time,
Simmering now the loathsome deed,
Expunging rapture as to feed,
The anguish and the nagging pain,
Diverting joy so as to feign,
Spite without compassion’s care,
Alone now and left to stare,
At blank walls with reddish hue,
As passion stews in temper’s rue.
My words now tawdry and weak,
Withholding thee my other cheek. LFP
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