What Everyone Needs to Know About Power

Power is not something that will ever be given to you, but you don’t have to worry about that because YOU ALREADY HAVE IT. Some people may shy away from power, but I believe it’s time to embrace it and express it in every aspect of your life. It plays a critical role in our everyday actions, whether we are aware of it or not, and we can begin, right now, to channel our power more effectively with a new awareness and understanding.

Let’s take a look at the dictionary definition, and we’ll build on that. First, Webster defines power as:

1 the ability to do something or act in a particular way, esp. as a faculty or quality: the power of speech | [with infinitive ] the power to raise the dead | ( powers) his powers of concentration. 

OR

2 the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events: the idea that men should have power over women | she had me under her power.

If power is the “ability to do something or act in a particular way”, or even if it’s “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events”, then power is something that EVERYONE uses already. It’s behind every action we take, and every major influence in your life. 

But again, that word power seems slightly elusive, and abstract. To understand it at a deeper level, let’s consider other concepts that affect power directly.

Energy

We cannot discuss power without bringing the word ‘energy’ into the discussion, since they are so closely related. Everything is made up of energy. Scientifically speaking, energy cannot be created or destroyed, and since it cannot be created or destroyed, that means it’s always been here. This is the Law of Conservation of Energy. However, energy can change form and transform.

Human beings are also a form of energy. People also have the choice to have more energy, or less energy (we’ll discuss this in another article later in detail). When you have more energy, you feel more alive and vibrant, and conversely, when you have less, you may feel tired and depleted. I want to emphasize that having either an abundance or a lack of energy is a CHOICE, and one result or the other doesn’t just happen to you.

The Power Company Metaphor

Now, think of the energy that powers a home or any building. There is energy everywhere, which is harnessed by your local power & electric company. They then distribute that energy for a fee.

The amount of energy that the home uses (such as lights, heat, etc.) will be determined by the personal preferences of the person living in the home. Obviously if you use more electricity, such as lights, microwave ovens, computers, etc., then more energy is used. Simple.

Now, what if a customer does not have enough money in their bank account to pay for a very high electric bill? Then that person may choose to use less energy, and look for ways to conserve more. If a person is wealthy, then they may disregard how much energy their home is using, but either way, each is choosing the amount of energy they will both use. The amount of your energy bill reflects your energy usage.

Now, the ‘power’ company is harnessing the energy that is in the world, channels that energy into a usable form that every person can then use. As each customer uses a certain portion of this channeled energy, then they are charged a fee for what they have used. Simple, right?

I believe this provides a useful metaphor in understanding power as it pertains to our everyday life. Like the power company, human beings have access to the unlimited energy out in the world, with the ability to harness, channel, and distribute it.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, so it is, by definition, unlimited. And as energy permeates our whole being, spirit — mind — emotions — body, we have the ability to harness and channel that energy the same way as the power company. And as we ’share’ with people what that energy produces, in the form of service or relationship building, we, too, can profit from our ‘business’, in the form of money or good feelings.

More Power, or Less?

The key to this whole thing is how the power company harnesses and channels the energy. That’s why we pay them, and because they have figured out how to do it, they can charge us for that service. Otherwise, we would power up our own homes if we knew how. They have figured out how to take the energy and focus it, concentrate it, and distribute it.

The idea of lighting up the whole world is powerful, but the actual, real life result is awesome. And this is what I call an act of power. Again, energy is the stuff around and within us that we use everyday to act in the world. Without any energy running through our bodies we cannot live, and how we use that energy towards any result is our power in action.

We can choose to harness and focus our energies, or we can choose not to, and this decision is the critical difference between someone who is seen as powerful and successful, and someone who is not. The more we focus and concentrate our energy, the faster we accomplish any result, i.e. the more powerful we become. The less focused we are, combined with a lack of concentration will have diminished results.

Power Redefined

Back to power. Remember, power is the ability to act or do something or the ability to influence others and events around us. Power is simply the way we harness and channel the energy that is all around and within us. Another way of stating this, power is the ability to focus and concentrate one’s energy towards a specific result or outcome.

Again:

Power is the ability to focus and concentrate one’s energy towards a specific result or outcome. 

 

The critical difference in the amount of power that flows from you depends on your FOCUS and CONCENTRATION skills.

Focus

Focus has two components. Decision and clarity. Focus is a matter of choosing the right thing for you with clarity.

Think of a photographer. She takes out her camera, and looks through the lens. If there are two things she wants to take a picture of, and one is in the foreground and another is in the background, then she has to make a decision, out of the two choices she has.

Once she decides on a target, then she will make one CLEAR, and the other will become blurred by default.

Concentration

Concentration is your ability to stay with one target for a certain period of time. It’s about duration and persistence. It is the ability to keep your attention on that one thing. Concentration is about staying with something as long as possible, or until it is complete.

Without the skill of concentration, we are easily distracted. And if our focus changes too much, then our energies are placed onto too many things, and that leads to confusion and frustration. With the right focus and concentration, we can produce quality results in less time.

If you have ever used a magnifying glass in the sun to start a fire, then you understand focus and concentration well. Focus is choosing a target for the sun’s rays, like a piece of paper or kindling, and concentration is staying with the target until it catches fire. If you have decided on a target, then change targets too soon, then the paper will not burn.

The clearer you bring the sun’s rays into focus, the more powerful the effect. Of course, without harnessing the sun’s rays by moving the magnifying glass up and down, then there will be no fire.

Remember, focus is about two things. Making the right decision out of the many choices available and then making it as clear as you can. Specifics, details, and being definite matter when it comes to focus. And concentration is about sticking to that decision until it’s complete or you are satisfied.

Another example. Let’s say we are digging for water, and unbeknownst to us, water is 50 feet deep. We decide and are clear (using our focus) we want to dig in a certain spot (digging requires energy). While digging the same hole for 25 feet (concentration is about duration), we may start to think that we didn’t pick a good place to dig. We decide (shifting focus) to change digging locations and start again (using up more energy). However, if we stick with it, and concentrate, we will eventually hit the water at 50 feet deep.

Everyone Wants Power

And this explains why ‘power’ is such a sought after commodity. If you had the power to create a specific result, would you not use that? If you had the power to affect or influence events around you, again, would you not use that? The funny thing is, people are looking for power in all the wrong places and things.

Remember, if you have energy flowing through you, and the abilities to focus and concentrate, then you already have great potential for exercising your power in the world.

The Power Equation

So, here’s an equation to unlock your power (which everyone has and uses each day):

power = energy + (focus * concentration) or p = e + (f * c)

Power is the amount of energy you have plus your focus combined with concentration. You already have power, and it’s always being used to some extent. How powerful you become is a matter of energy, focus, and concentration. That’s all.

Power Myths

So, let’s dispel a couple of myths about power.

Myth: Someone can give you power.

I know some people who wish this were true, but it’s only a dream. True power comes from within, not without. Everyone has access to it, and it is a result of responsibility and choice. It is a decision to be made and then exercised, thus, your power is harnessed and expressed properly.

There are people that have been given ‘authority’ or bestowed ‘power’ by employers or other people in ‘high’ places. And it never works out if that person who was ‘given’ the power doesn’t understand how to focus their own energy properly to produce results. This usually leads to someone who abuses their power or misrepresents it in such a way that offends others.

Again: Power cannot not be given or granted to another in any way.

Myth: Power is about control.

Power has nothing to do with control. The opposite of power is force, and it is commonly mistaken for real power. Force is about control, power is about choice and responsibility. Force is about punishment, power is about learning and growth. Force comes from weakness and insecurity, power comes from strength and security.

If you think about it, an insecure person has to use more force to get what they want, more energy because insecure energy is lower than security. Anyone who is truly secure would never act out of fear to get what they want.

Myth: Power is bad.

I don’t really care for amorphous words such as good and bad, but I suppose every word has its place. To put it as plainly as possible, power is good, force is bad. Don’t ever forget that. Power is your natural ability to do or act to get a desired result. When actions benefit others, that’s a result of power. When actions take advantage and manipulate others, that’s a result of force.

When you learn how to use it responsibly, you can take power to the next level of influencing others and events. Obviously, in order to act or do something you want to do, you must influence yourself first. You must first learn to channel the energy that is all around and within you to generate enough power to produce a wanted result or outcome.

So, remember – power is your ability to channel your energy using your skills of focus and concentration. You can choose to increase or decrease any part of the power equation to alter your results. You can increase your energy through exercise, nutrition, and meditation. You can increase your skills of focus and concentration through practice.

And always remember. If it is a skill, it can be improved. Always. The better you get at each component of the equation, the better your results, and the more powerful you will become.

Paul Campillo is the founder of Wake Up Smiling. Campillo started his career in counseling in 1998 working with youth and families in King County, Washington. He has worked with diverse populations such as homeless youth, high-risk offenders in juvenile justice, and youth performing below academic standards in several Seattle based schools with great success. In August of 2003, the Seattle Times ran a profile of Paul and his work. It was an important turning point in his work. Many people requested help with a variety of issues including insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, stress, organization, anger, PTSD from violent abuse, gambling addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, weight loss, general confusion regarding life’s everyday problems, and many more. With Wake Up Smiling expanding to the internet, Campillo promises the same valued attention that anyone would receive in person. “There are so many people out there, that want immediate help, and can’t wait for their local therapist, counselor, or life coach’s schedule to open up. Wake Up Smiling hopes to fill that need until they can get the help they seek. Yes, we may work odd hours to accomplish this goal, but it’s all about the people, man.” If you’re looking to get in touch with Paul, or have any questions about unleashing your power, then visit Wake UP Smiling today. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Campillo