Power Openings

This is a tough one. I’ll have to really step up.

 Opening an Opportunity

 In this blog, we often look at Openings as choices to make, or things we are hurled into. There are also Openings that offer us an opportunity to take our power and grow. Choice is still involved; however, we have some time to consider the choice. The Opening has set up a situation where we must stretch if we are to enter it. It requires us to take our power and often to leap out of our comfort zone.

Power Openings stand before us beckoning that we enter them. Entering them requires that we grow, in order to handle the situation. Perhaps the Opening involves mastering a difficult communication, doing something we’ve never done before and have had some fear around, or saying no to something that we are being pressured on.

A Power Opening says to us, “Are you ready to take a leap? Here’s how.” Our choice is to muster our courage and take a chance with the Power Opening or to walk away. If we enter, we must stretch ourselves and possibly be in uncomfortable places. Usually, when we first encounter the Power Opening, we know what it will ask of us and what we must do.

Personal Power

When I first began coaching, I would speak of personal power. Some advised me that power was a word that made people uncomfortable and I should avoid using it. I resisted that. Power is a good thing. It involves being our true selves, having confidence and handling difficult situations confidently. It also counteracts people who try to manipulate or control us.

Power is viewed in a multitude of ways. It is defined as the ability or capacity to act or to do something in an effective way; physical strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted; and possession of authority, control or influence over others; the energy or force by which a physical system or machine is able to operate. There is political power, personal power, the power of nature and much more.

Power can be abused. That may underly the warnings not to use the word. We all know many examples of the abuse of power. There are, however, many positives in power in individuals growing and learning and being their best selves. Power is important in our journeys. Without personal power, how can one move forward and grow?