Personal Power
What does power mean to you?
If I was to ask you here and now- “Do you feel you have power in your life?” How would you answer? What do you think of when the term ‘power’ is used? Do images of physical strength come up, wealth or status? Intellectual power, or family dynamics and relationship power? Is power an uncomfortable word for you? Is it a positive or negative feeling? What experiences of power have influenced your life? Do you see power as a destructive abusive force, or a strong and positive force for good? Is it that black and white or can power mean different things in different settings?
Our personal experiences of power or powerlessness will often dictate how we feel about it. For instance a child growing up in an environment of domestic abuse may associate power as a negative term as the abuser was powerful over others. In contrast a child who grew up in a family wherein choice was offered and they were consulted during decision making for family affairs may feel power is a positive force. It nurtured their ability to feel valued, important and ‘powerful’ having their voice heard by the adults around them. Power means different things to different people and can be interpreted in various ways. For the purposes of this article I am exploring the concept of ‘Personal Power.’
