Studies continue to show that a sense of powerlessness (perceived/actual) has a lasting negative impact on health. It is a risk factor for disease. Rapid restructuring (reorientation) of ingrained thinking patterns is the way forward. If I were to tell you that you aren’t going to progress because of a socio-cultural-political disadvantage, and you believe me, then you are unlikely to progress. Real or not, there will always be the outlier, wouldn’t you rather be that outlier? Children who are told by parents that they are useless at science, often fail in that subject area. Children who are told they are worthless by peers and loved ones, often have lasting damage to self-esteem.

Regardless of whether your sense of powerlessness is perceived or real, your mind will be unable to tell the difference if you are convinced that you are in fact in control of your immediate choices and desires. When everything else is removed, your freedom and ability to choose your attitude remains (Viktor Frankl, 1946).