Leaning Into Your Power

We all have those internalized ideas about power. Many, or at least those most commonly seen in our culture, depicting a kind of reckless greed and ruthlessness.

Sometimes, we might even feel a glimmer of … what? … respect? … envy? … admiration? when we see fictional characters (or real-life people, too) demonstrate what we understand to be power, that ability to make themselves larger than push both their will and wants into this world with unquestionable force.

There are examples of powerful people—or people with power, or people using power— acting for the larger good. That’s true.

Too many mainstream examples uphold power as a means to an end, however, and that end is almost always oppressive.

But what if we flip the script on power?

Especially in these times where the day-to-day can feel overwhelming, I think quite a bit about how real power is defined by authenticity and vulnerability.

What if my real power is in being able to admit what I don’t know and then committing to listening and learning?

What if my real power is living my love out loud, for both myself and everyone I care about, freely, confidently?

What if my real power is doing the work of knowing myself intimately, unearthing all my nooks and crannies so I can better assess and set right my blind spots and polish my goodness to more honestly engage in this world?

What if my real power is in being able to apologize with sincerity, make caring and uplifting others my business, and focus more on how I can show up for community?

What if my real power is in loving myself enough to set and maintain boundaries?

My invitation to you today is to think about your own power.

What strengths can you lean into to access your real power? How can you use that power to help build the world you want to live in?