Aria da Capo & What Makes a Man Powerful?

A Young Man Learns about the Power of Good Will

Tommy Goldman, a second-grader having Aesthetic Realism consultations, wanted to speak about his fights with other boys. When he said about a wrestling match with a classmate: "I nailed him." We asked:

Consultants:  How did you feel doing that? Was this really a victory for you?
Tommy Goldman:  No.

His friend, Joe Watkins often wanted to fight with Tommy; and Tommy told us with a mingling of swagger and shame, "I boxed him in the face and his lip started bleeding." We asked:

Consultants:  Why do you suppose Joe is such an angry person?
Tommy Goldman:  I don't know.
Consultants:  Would it be good to know?
Tommy Goldman:  Yes.

We were teaching him what Aesthetic Realism shows is the greatest power a person can have: good will—to try and see what another feels from within. We asked about Joe:

Consultants:  Do you think he feels other people have gotten the breaks in life and he hasn't?
Tommy Goldman:  Yeah.
Consultants:  Do you think it's possible that his parents, like yours, are worried about money and that could upset him?

He thought it could. And we asked:

Tommy Goldman:  What would happen if you said, "Joe, gee you know, you like to fight...and you seem kind of angry. How come? I'm interested in knowing why?" ...Could you ask that?

Tommy said "yes," and was very much affected to think about his friend in this new way. Through his study of Aesthetic Realism Tommy Goldman is changing. He wrote to us:

Thank you for teaching me how to like the world more....I'm grateful to hear criticism from you about my contempt. I'm learning to be more fair to my friends and other people.

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