What is power?  My International Relations professor in college told us that it is the ability to get someone else to do what you want.  I think that this is partially complete  It is also your ability to resist someone else who is trying to get you to do what they want.

We all have power.  Some of us are more aware of it than others, and some of us are much better at using it.  Just because you don’t feel your own power doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.  You just need some practice using it.

We are all under pressure from others to do what they want us to do.  From the time we are small children deciding what game to play, to professionals in the workplace dividing up the responsibilities, people use their power to get what they want.  Do you find it hard to say ‘no?’  Do you find it hard to ask someone to do something, or to do more than what they were doing?  It may be time to find your power.

It’s important to be fair, and to be able to work, and play, collaboratively with others.  But what about when the others aren’t being fair or co-operative?  You have to power in you to stand up for what’s right.  You have the power to tell a friend or teammate to pull more weight.  Are you afraid they will be mad at you?  That is a reasonable concern, because they might get mad.  But does that really matter?  Who are you trying to please, and why?  If you know what is right, then you are allowed to stand up for it, even if that means that someone else may get mad at you.

You need to stay true to yourself, and in order to do this, you need to find your power.  When you cave in, you give up your power to another person, and you lose a little of yourself.  When you stand up for what is right, and you exercise your power, you get even stronger.  You can do this in a way that is still kind and considerate.  You don’t need to turn it into a confrontation.  And if the other person insists on making into something bigger than it is, that is their choice.  Is this hard?  Absolutely.  Is it worth it?  Without a doubt.

Find your power.  Picture yourself standing up for what is right.  Exercise that power, and see how good you feel when you do.