Be With Your Power
By Lisa Templeton, Ph.D.
Published in March 2020 Luminous Wisdom: SOPHIA
In our society, the true meaning of power has been distorted, seen as a way to dominate another or feel commanding over others. We think of power as generally associated with strength, might, force, and control; yet, power means so much more than that. The term power originally comes from the Latin word, Potere, which means “to be able.” Even with limitations and disabilities, we are all able in some form or another.
To be with your power is really about identifying our abilities through awareness and management of oneself. To know oneself is true power. Yet, what do you really know about yourself? Can you objectively state your abilities and express them out into the world? How can you know yourself better? Stay in the present moment and pay close attention to your mental landscape.
If we are not present with ourselves, we are missing precious information about our abilities. If we are able, what is it with which you are gifted? How is it that we are expressing ourselves and sharing this able gift with the world? When we know and understand that of which we are capable, we are empowered. Everyone has capabilities regardless of their limiting beliefs.
Yet, when we look to our inner world, often times we can feel powerless to our racing and contradicting thoughts. The concept of power is again misrepresented. We use terms like “battle” or “conflict” with self in attempts to overtake the ego or control the negative part of ourselves with dominance. This is not true power. Authentic power is about negotiating, navigating, collaborating, and cooperating to find a middle path; real power is about connection. The more we can challenge ourselves, not with might or force, but with fierce compassion, love, and understanding, the more we can comprehend the true nature of our power.
There has never been a moment when I have felt true connection with myself and/or someone else that I don’t feel empowered. Two or more open hearts have such an ability to create strength and influence inspiration. When we take on an attitude of connection within ourselves, the battle is over; we realize that the conflict was an illusion all along. Consider two armies coming together as one. Their collective might is much stronger than standing alone.
We cannot create this collective without going within. To be with our power requires us “to be able” to review the evidence of our thoughts and our stories within. Yet, with the external distractions and subtle messages in the world, we are nudged away from ourselves and encouraged to create an “other” within. In turn, we are geared away from our power. Hence, we must learn to navigate the landscape within ourselves, cast out the illusion of separation, and challenge the conditioned patterns of thoughts and beliefs. By doing so, we are connected to ourselves, each other, and our power.