| Power is part of our DNA, who we are. Power (and | | | | power? Can I challenge myself to explore the |
| passion) are woven into our life's purpose - why we're | | | | "unknown" and forward the action of my life into new |
| on the planet. Absent power, life is a humdrum | | | | areas, across my current life boundaries? |
| experience - lacking meaning or real engagement. | | | | Powerlessness is a "message" that suggests we |
| When we lack or lose our sense of power, we feel | | | | need to look beyond our eyes. |
| less than, deficient, and invisible. What results is anger. | | | | Second, on a spiritual level, powerlessness is an |
| Sometimes our anger is overt - violence, abuse or | | | | opportunity to "go inside," to explore within to touch the |
| aggression, or silent - sadness or depression. | | | | true source of Power, where true and real |
| On a macro level, have only to watch or read the | | | | "empowerment" resides. Often, the "inner" will point us |
| news to witness the degree of violence that threads | | | | to the "outer" - that true and real power is about |
| throughout much of the world. So many folks feeling | | | | serving the needs of others. Lest you think that |
| victimized, helpless and powerless. | | | | "power" is "volunteering," it might be. But true and real |
| On a micro level, what about you? First and foremost, | | | | power and the sense of authenticity, self-confidence, |
| anger is a reactivity to loss of love. Secondarily, anger | | | | aliveness, fulfillment, and meaning accompanying it |
| arises when we feel we are powerless - feeling we're | | | | come from a conscious choice to serve, support and |
| not able to control others either verbally, emotionally or | | | | be self-less to others - at work, at home, at play and in |
| psychologically. What we need to understand here is | | | | relationship. |
| that now we're not talking about "power," but "force." | | | | True personal power arises from a personality-soul |
| What's the difference? | | | | connection. True personal power is the result of |
| Force is a "faux" power we resort when we feel | | | | passion and purpose that is heart-driven, not ego-mind |
| deficient and want to feel powerful. Force is actually a | | | | driven. Personal power results from empowering - |
| "weakness" that leaks out as aggression and | | | | others, not your self. As Deepak Chopra says, |
| dominance. | | | | "Seventy-five percent of what a person does, they do |
| True and real power - a soul quality - is actually the | | | | for their self - and there isn't one." If we understand |
| energy that accompanies self-confidence, self-worth, | | | | that, we can discern the difference between the love |
| self-awareness, authenticity, equanimity and gentleness. | | | | and gentleness of power and the ugliness and |
| Power is supportive, not defensive. Power comes | | | | harshness of force. |
| from an inner "knowing," an inner drive and inner | | | | So, power begins with me, my True Self - identifying |
| authority. Power is the soul's "right action." | | | | and making healthy choices to change and grow in my |
| Powerlessness and resulting anger come not from the | | | | life at work, at home, at play and in relationship - and |
| heart, but from a fear-based mental and emotional | | | | allow the ripples from my growth to move out and |
| sense of not being in control, or feeling victimized or | | | | affect others. |
| trapped by one's life or environment - at work, at | | | | So, some questions for self-reflection are: |
| home, at play or in relationship. Anger is a reactivity to | | | | - Where are you on the power-force continuum? |
| one's circumstances or to the lack of opportunity. | | | | - Would your colleagues and friends say you are ever |
| Anger also arises when one feels unable to express | | | | forceful and aggressive? |
| one's self - either lacking the ability to communicate, or | | | | - Are you a "control-freak?" Do you move to anger |
| feeling unheard, misunderstood or unseen. Frustration | | | | quickly when you feel you're not in control? |
| and self-esteem issues arise when one feels unheard | | | | - Do you ever reflect on your forceful or aggressive |
| or unseen. | | | | thoughts, words or actions? If so, what do you see |
| Finally, anger arises when one feels they lack a | | | | about yourself? Any patterns? |
| capacity to "do" or "be." Physical or mental disability, | | | | - Are there folks in your life you can empower? How |
| illness, or career or financial hardship. When one feels | | | | can you do that? |
| "limited," anger and frustration often result. Anger | | | | - Do you feel stuck, powerless or frustrated? What |
| arises, too, when one cannot fulfill their dreams or | | | | talents, skills or abilities might enable you to forward the |
| visions. | | | | action of your life? |
| So, what is the antidote to anger? | | | | - Think of a person or persons you can empower and |
| First, on a practical level, it's helpful to explore the | | | | decide how you will do that. |
| reverse side of frustration. What do I need to do, be | | | | - Can you take some time to reflect or meditate on |
| and have to reduce or eliminate my frustration? What | | | | your life purpose or how you can contribute to life? |
| knowledge, skills or abilities do I lack? What would | | | | This is where you discover your power. |
| empower me to feel capable and powerful? Are | | | | - What was being around anger and force like for you |
| there new or different directions or interests I might | | | | and your family as you were growing up? |
| pursue that would give me a sense of purpose and | | | | |