The Ultimate Key To Power

A few years back I got a night job teaching computer programming at a local art college. I’d been a guest teacher before but had never been completely in charge of my own course. On the night of my first class as I sat in front waiting for everyone to arrive, I realized (with a momentary panic) that there wasn’t anyone there to officially start the class. No one, of course, except for me.

That was a strangely enlightening moment. Looking back, it shouldn’t have surprised me that as the teacher I was the one responsible to stand up and say, “Okay everyone, here’s the plan, let’s get started”, but because I was new to that particular role, it felt odd.

A lot of life is like that. We can get so used to someone else having a plan — giving us a grade, a review, or their approval on something we’ve done, it’s easy to forget that we’re really the ones in charge. No matter what our job title is.

They say that with great power comes great responsibility. At least Voltaire did. I’ve always taken this to mean that any position of power comes with a lot of responsibilities. Or that people in powerful positions should act responsibly because they’ll be held accountable in a “whoever carries the torch takes the heat” kind of way.

Recently, I’ve found the phrase to be more helpful when read in reverse:

With great responsibility comes great power.

From that perspective, life has so much more potential. All of a sudden I’m responsible for bumping up against my self limiting beliefs with enough attention to realize I’m the only one who can change them.

If I hear myself complaining about something, my only real option is to shut up and do something about it instead.

Usually when things don’t go the way I’ve planned, a lame little voice in my head starts pointing out all the ways someone or something else held me back. If I listen to him, I have a new problem: pinning the blame on someone else takes away my power to solve things for myself.

If responsibility is the path to power, then blame is a choice to be powerless.

Blame gives away the power to change anything. It offers someone else the ability to decide if I get to be happy or successful or feel worthwhile. It keeps my mind focused on how I’m being treated instead of how I’m treating myself.

Taking absolute responsibility for the way I am in the world and the outcomes I accept for myself instantly unlocks the power required to change anything for the better.

At first, the idea of taking ultimate personal responsibility felt like a lot of work (which it is), but over time it has proven to be a completely life changing practice.

Next time you catch yourself complaining or listening too intently to the little voice inside that knows who to blame for all your problems, stop yourself and say these words:

The only limits on my life are the ones I accept for myself.

Now you have the power to change anything. Just like you always have.