Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
I’m sorry to say that more than once in my life I’ve been caught wearing a shirt or a sweater inside out.
Clearly in those moments of dressing, my mind was on something else besides exuding proper attire.
While doing research on my article, it occurred to me that this relatable dress mishap would be the perfect analogy for proving my point on the topic of this article-power.
Though power may not be a form of apparel; nonetheless, breaking down power from the inside out, figuratively speaking, has a strong influence on each of us.
Looking at a garment from the inside out can be very revealing as to the quality and durability of the product.
Trust me, when I’m shopping for quality, be assured I’ve checked the inside for the material quality, stitching and the eye for detail.
The outside of the garment initially attracts me, but before I pull my credit card out, the price tag needs to correspond with the quality.
Recognizing power in someone takes further examination as well.
Executive Coach Katharine Pons highlights in her discussion on “Internal vs External Power and Control” how individuals tend to downplay their sense of ‘Internal Power and Control.’
She notes, “Most people pay far more attention to factors and influences outside of themselves, than they do to their own inner strengths and abilities.
What’s more, they believe these external influences are significantly more powerful than their internal strengths.”
She continues, “This leads to people feeling quite powerless - especially around their emotional responses to the outside influences - which in turn creates a number of different effects, some of which you will have heard of, like ‘social anxiety’ and ‘obedience to authority.’”
Like the inside of the garment, the quality of your internal strength, integrity and courage most definitely affects your reactions to external power influence.
Discovering and assisting in defining your personal power is a process, the key is to take action.
Instagram is a great place to start if you have access.
One of my favorites is The Success Mindset Revolution.
Below are some of their Point of Views (POV) titled This is What Happens when you Realize your Power:
*You stop waiting for the perfect moment and realize now is all you need.
*You start seeing challenges as lessons, not obstacles.
*You decide to rewrite your story, and everything begins to align.
*You stop asking for permission to live the life you deserve.
*You let go of the version of you that people wanted and embrace the real you.
*You stop chasing external validation and find peace within yourself.
*You wake up one day and realize you’ve become the person you used to admire.
*You leave behind the fear of failure and step boldly into growth.
*You stop worrying about scarcity and attract more than you ever imagined.
*You shift from “Why me?” to “Try me,” and opportunities flow to you.
In other words, building up your Internal Power (confidence, self-acceptance, courage, integrity and strength) fuels your ability to navigate External Power outside of yourself. Remember, recognize and embrace the strides you’ve already achieved.
There’s quality and durability in your stitching.
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com