Thursday, April 18, 2013

Challenge : P is for Power


P is for Power.

I'm talking about Personal and Positive Power. It is not power over someone or power to misuse. I could talk about wind power and solar power - or alternative power, in general - but I won't; probably someone else can talk about that with more authority and accuracy and, well, I don't want to.

Personal and Positive Power is about being present in your life, in your body and your relationships. It's about knowing who you are and what you need in this world and it's about not being afraid to say things like, "I think _________" and "I need _________" and "I'd like to __________." And I do mean that in a respectful and appropriate way.

Sometimes we're afraid of the Power we do have and we shirk from it. We try ... Let me back up and be honest. I'll speak for myself because that is who I know most about. And from what I've been told, I'm really not that unique in a lot of ways. I mean - I am; I'm me and there is only one of me, I'm pretty certain. But many of my experiences are similar or the same as others in many ways. And in being cautious with showing my Power was ingrained at a pretty young age.

So sometimes I'm hesitant to speak up and show what I know because maybe my Power won't be perceived well or will be misunderstood. Yes, that's happened. In the recent past I said something to someone, honestly and what came from my heart, and the other person thought I meant something else and that there was another feeling behind what I said. But I'd said exactly what I felt and I that it was okay - both things honest and true; the other person didn't believe me and I lost what I thought was a good friend. I spoke my Power and lost a friend.

Usually speaking one's Power doesn't have negative consequences. That's what I have to remind myself. I didn't grow up with people plainly speaking their Power and we had to guess and figure it out and look at the words around what was being said to know. And we were taught to not act "too big for our britches" nor "to brag" and to not be a "knowitall."

It's taken me awhile, but I think I have it now. P is for Positive and Personal Power. And that's good.
*