What is Personal Power? How much personal power do you have? How much of it do you give away?

The following exercise about Personal Power was found to be quite powerful. It is amazing how much power you actually have---until you give it away. Giving away your power of choice is how you give it away. But, when you see exactly how you gave it away it becomes easy to take it back.

However, watch out for excuses. People will often say, “Yes, I admit I gave away my power, but I had to.” The truth is that the only reason that you ever have to do anything is because you want something. If you never wanted anything you would never have to do a thing. Yet you can have what you want without giving away your power. In fact, that is the only way to have what you want.

Let’s take a look at a few simple examples of what you may have been doing to give away control of your life.

Look over the questions that follow and answer them for yourself. You’re the only one who knows the answers, and if you really look at them you’ll begin to see how you can get your power back.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

SET 1

1.    Have you ever given up something for someone?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

2.    Was there someone you gave up your power to.

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

3.    Have you ever let someone make decisions for you?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

4.    Have you ever put yourself second?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

5.    Have you ever allowed someone to manipulate you?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

6.    Have you ever done something you didn't want to do?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

SET 2

1.    Have you ever changed your plans for someone?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

2.    Have you ever agreed with something you didn't want to?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

3.    Have you ever procrastinated?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

4.    Have you ever let someone rush you or confuse you?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

5.    Have you ever allowed someone to waste your time?

                If so, when was it?

                What did you expect to gain (or avoid)?

6.    Who do you still tend to give up your power to?

                What do you expect to gain (or avoid)?

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

There it is. You had expectations. You wanted something and you handed control of your life over to someone else. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn’t. Only you know which was smart and which wasn’t.

To find out more, and learn how to manage your life even better be sure to look over other Lifetalk Life Management links.

Return to:        Managing Life        Lifetalk        Site-Index        My Other Sites