Power
Power gets things done. Flip a switch without power and nothing happens - no light, no action, no result.
The question is, are we utilizing our power in a way that makes our life more satisfying? Are there areas we might be compensating for a lack of power?
If we had more power, life would be more exciting, more prolific, more abundant! Power is good.
Who Teaches Power?
Like many things in life, we learn by experience. But we might come to the wrong conclusions. Maybe we are shy and never even considered the idea of power. Maybe we prefer cooperation and collaboration and don’t like the idea of power. Maybe we've been run over by aggressive, competitive, or controlling personalities and we experience power as a negative thing.
Instead of pushing through negative experiences or recognizing dysfunctional behavior in others, we might have come to the wrong conclusions. Maybe we developed strategies of avoidance or wondered if there's something wrong with us. Maybe we felt inadequate because we couldn't come up with a witty comeback. Little by little, the light of our power began to dim.
A healthy level of self-esteem is a powerful shield. If we were not taught and trained on this before adulthood, then we most certainly accumulated some scars and false beliefs.
To think that we are not powerful is a lie. To reject the idea of power is like rejecting a part of ourselves.
The good news is, we have power. We were born to be POWER-FULL. The key is to identify it, tap into it, and plug the holes where it leaks out.
To do big things, to dream our dreams, we need big power.
Willpower Will Fail
Sometimes we use the term willpower to describe an energy source. For example, I don't have the willpower to resist cookies (It's true). But willpower is not a power at all. The will to do something must draw on a real source of power.
To "will" ourselves to take action we can draw on specific sources of power. And there are many sources of power to choose from.
Real Power
Just like success, power gets a bad rap because we mostly see it abused. But power is neutral. Therefore, we should maximize our power and use it for good.
There are different kinds of power. There is motivating power, there is expertise power, and there is positional power (authority granted by the position we hold). For dream building, I am most interested in motivating power.
It is always best to start with the definition of power, dissect its many parts, and then examine the scope of its application.
The definition of power is simple: Power is a motivating energy that originates from one or more sources.
The key is to identify the power sources and become power-full. We must choose the energy sources that are strong enough to motivate us to take sustained action.
Sources of Power
There are many sources of power. The question is, what are the sources of power we have access to? Are they positive power sources? Are they sustaining power sources? And finally, how can we tap into these sources of power to become power-full?
Here are some of the power sources I have identified as crucial for dream building:
Calling
This can be very vague or broad. It can be a deep quiet feeling. For example, it could be a sense that there is more to life than we are currently experiencing. It's like a distant lighthouse that beckons us to come.
Purpose
This is the purpose we choose in order to live out our calling. This can be broad, but is more specific than calling. For example, my purpose is to pursue my potential to the best of my ability, with faith, and diligence. It's more specific, but still broad enough to allow for a multitude of options.
A Specific Dream
This is where the action happens. This is where growth happens. We need to build in order to make progress and gain knowledge, wisdom, and experience. We can't build what we can't envision. A dream must be as clear and specific as possible. Of course, we can pivot, and make course corrections as we grow and learn.
These three components are powerful energy sources. They are long lasting energy sources also.
Finally
There are many other sources of power. I plan to examine the most important sources over the next few weeks.
Love is the greatest power.
To your success!
What is your dream?
My dream is to write small but powerful books that simplify success, and plant them like seeds.
FOUNDER
My first book is "FOUNDER - How to Build a Foundation for your Dreams." You can read it FREE at www.jamesonsuccess.com/books.
BUILDER
My second book is "BUILDER - The five pillars of following your dream and building something that matters." You can read it FREE at www.jamesonsuccess.com/books.
If you know any dreamers who could greatly benefit from this article, feel free to forward this email to them. I believe success is learned and good ideas are seeds that need to be sown.