MAGAZINE navigation:

INFO

ISSUES [currently viewing]

AUTHORS

SEARCH

Currently viewing:

Issue 2 > Real power.

Real power.

Alicia Marie Fruin explores the nature of power.

So what is real power, what is the nature of power? How do we access power? When do we feel powerless? Is there a difference between real power and conventional power?

Dwelling in these questions has in and of itself positively affected my work, my life, my purpose. When I ask these questions, I am filled with insights into my own internal and external motivations. It is my intention to share these insights here and to leave you knowing that you already have all that it takes to be authentically powerful!

It seems part of our confusion about power is in the different meanings we have for power and how we view power.

So, 'what is power'? The conventional view is typically expressed as control, authority, status or strength. Often, when using the word power, we have in mind the idea of controlling the actions of someone or something. We speak of will power or controlling our behavior or controlling our children etcetera.

In George Orwell's 1984, the main character Winston is considering the control-based society in which he lives and comes to the realization 'they can make you do and say anything but they can't make you believe it'. So perhaps power, viewed as control is an illusion.

Frequently we mean strength when we use the word power. We refer to physically strong people as powerful. We might call a nation powerful based on its military strength. In other words, the ability to inflict harm by a person, group or nation. At its very core all this is, is intimidation, bullying and it generates fear. So perhaps power, as strength is an illusion.

Power as authority? Most of our society is set up as such. We all know that just because someone has authority, it does not give them power. How many figureheads have we seen in large companies? How many times have we 'pulled rank' on our children 'because I said so!' just to have it backfire on us later.

What we have learned and often teach our children is that by virtue of position, people in authority have power. For example; teachers, parents, and police officers. Power through authority, an illusion maybe? At its best, it is not consistently effective or sustainable. I would also say that this belief system leaves the vast majority of us feeling powerless!

  next page »

Page  1  |  2  | all pages

« PREVIOUS ARTICLE  NEXT ARTICLE »

ISSUE 2 CONTENTS »

Currently viewing:

MAGAZINE > issues > 2 > Real power.