Who's Got The Power?

It’s always difficult to talk about power with people who believe they lack power. I’m not necessarily just talking about financial or political power either. I’m talking about something much more personal, much more basic, required to survive and to thrive.

If you believe nothing is ever your fault or you were wronged (I did).

If you say things like, if only they would do x then I could, would, have or be… (check).

If it appears that everyone else is always better off than you are (checkmate),

I might wonder, who’s got the power? And wonder I did because I certainly didn’t have any power. First I thought it was my parents fault. Then it was the schools and teachers fault. Next I blamed racism, sexism, religion, society, politicians, leaders, corporations, governments anyone at all, except me.

So I started reading and thinking and writing and thinking some more. I started watching people I thought had the sort of power I wanted and watched what they did, how they thought, how they responded. The catalyst in this watching process became an email from Tom Justin. I have been on Toms email list for 367 days as of today. I received his first email on July 4, 2007.

I found myself angry after reading the first few of his emails to me. He kept talking about the power of NO. He started telling me I am powerful. I am influential.

He made me angry by suggesting that I use this power and put myself out there, become open to people and open to people telling me NO. That NO was and is a good thing. He even offered to share with me some ways on, “How to Use the Power of NO.¹” How dare he? Who did he think he was?

Who was he, to tell me I have power when everyone else, my friends, my family, my boss is telling me different? Who was he to tell me I am responsible for using my power or to even suggest what power I might have.

It’s not true. It can’t be true because if I had power, my life would be completely different. If I had power, if only I had power I could . . .

His emails made me want to argue with him, make a point of proving him wrong, proving to him I didn’t have power. Thank goodness, I failed. I’m honestly grateful because failing means I am uncovering, discovering and recovering my personal power.

So who’s got your power? Really. Because if you aren’t using it, or aren’t aware of it, your boss, your friends, your family, someone else, someone other than you, is using it.

Here on the GET CAUGHT THRiViNG! blog, I want you to succeed. I want you to aim for your dreams. I want you to soar with your power.

I want you to find out about your personal power. I want YOU to acknowledge and use your personal power. Read what Tom has to say, (just click on the colorful and underlined text above) and if what he says speaks to you in any way, take action.

It’s your power. Accept it. Own it. Use it to make your life, your world better. I am.

Want to discuss it, comments are open. Let’s grow from here.

This post inspired by Tom Justin and YOU, if..

You’ve been caught up, caught out and caught in the act, now . . . GET CAUGHT THRiViNG!

¹ Tom Justin is the author of "How to take NO for an Answer and Still
 Succeed" and offers "How to Use the Power of NO" as a free download.
 Take some action, use your power.

Tagged As: "What Power You Must Have", access your power, activate your power, Get Caught Thriving, personal power, The Justin Times, Tom Justin