Power All power, yours and theirs, is yours. First, What is Power? The power peculiar to each of us is that force that distinguishes each of us from all other beings. Our power is our creativity, our joy, our sorrow, our anger, our pain. This energy is our personhood. The extraordinary mix of traits and talents and experiences that make up the fingerprint our our souls. This power belongs to us and only to us. Power is an idea, a perception, a judgment, a thought - this thought: The power I face is always the power I perceive. Let me say it differently. Their power is my perception of their power. Their power is my thought. The source of their power, therefore, is in my mind. The power others posses is the power I give them. If Ive endowed the other with power that the other does not posses, then I face my own power, do I not? My own power has become my opponent - my enemy. On the other hand, if the other posses power but I do not perceive the others power as effective against me, he has none...none for me. We often encounter opponents who excel where we do not. We can squander our time, our energy, all of our power in worrying about our opponents power and thus give our power to him. No argument, no matter how skillfully delivered, will change our opponent. The only people we have the power to change are ourselves. I refuse to relinquish my power to my opponent. I keep my power. I use it to prepare my cases, to prepare for my client... ...What do we do when our parents, teachers, or bosses use their power to control or injure us? By understanding power we can make their power powerless against us. Their threats, their rantings and ragings, their accusations and abuse. What is it about? It is not about their power. It is about their infirmities. Everyones personality is pock-marked with holes, much like a block of Swiss Cheese. A hole may represent a place void of intelligence where wisdom should have filled it. Still another hole may show a possity of sensitivity, insight or empathy. We use power to fill the holes of our personality. When a power entity, a judge for example, has no other personality asset with which to cover over his deficiencies we will endure, instead, his ugly exhibitions of raw power. Remember Lord Actons immortal law: All power corrupts, absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely. Responsibility is a symbiotic twin of power. Neither power nor responsibility can be effectively exercised without the other. They are like a binary star - two ends revolving around a center. The almighty judge is responsible for justice in his court. The all powerful parent is responsible for the childs growth and welfare. The omnipotent boss is responsible for production at the plant. But the judge cannot obtain justice without lawyers who present him with facts. The parent cannot form the successful child without the love of the child. The boss is powerless to achieve production without the respect and aid of his employees. Are we not confronted with a paradox? Is it not apparent that power is finally vested in the powerless? And the power to aid those in power, those who bear the responsibility is always our power. And when we exercise our power to aid those who have power over us, we vest ourselves with power. Do we not? American Civics Research Library by Gerry Spence
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:24:52 +0000
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