Within each of us there is also a spiritual Mitzrayim , from which we must extricate ourselves daily. This coming out of Mitzrayim is accomplished by breaking out of our narrow boundaries and demonstrating our reverence for God, for the Godliness within man, and for the lasting values of Torah. As we will see, this is a difficult transition. Our Mitzrayim begins during childhood, in which our view of life is distorted by the limitations of our mental capabilities. For example, young children often perceive love in terms of how much they get, both emotionally and materially.
Children also misunderstand the meaning of power.
Because children are dependent on others for their sense of worth and security, they try to control the people and events around them. Yet they often feel deprived and afraid, since they are dependent on people whom they cannot really control. There are times when they feel enormously powerful, almost omnipotent, as they exercise their ability to manipulate their parents in order to get what they want. There are other times, though, when they feel inferior and powerless, like resentful slaves forced to submit to oppressive forces beyond their control. He must learn to look within himself for his sense of worth and joy, must develop tolerance and respect for his fellowmen, not just those at the top or those who agree with him, and must stop using manipulative control tactics to force others to change.