How to Find Power when you Feel Weak
I casually asked my wife, “Isn’t it surprising how long this toothpaste is lasting?”
We laughed for two days when I finally confessed that I had been adding toothpaste to the old tube for two weeks.
I rub the tube along the edge of the sink to get all the toothpaste out.
You don’t know what you have until you use what you’ve got.
You aren’t superman or super girl. You can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound. But you have more in you than you think.
4 principles of power:
#1. You feel weak before you find strength.
The experience of finding new strength happens when you add a few pounds of weight to your workout. It makes you feel weak.
Don’t use feeling weak as a reason to stop trying.
#2. Pride is the reason weakness continues.
Humility acknowledges weakness and seeks help. Pride prolongs weakness by hiding weakness.
#3. Seek help when you test limits.
Support is the context of gaining strength. It’s dangerous and foolhardy to go-it-alone when you’re testing your limits and developing new skills.
#4. You gain power when you need power.
If you wait to feel powerful before you step out, you’re stuck on the couch.
It might be frustrating, but uncertainty comes before certainty. Push through feelings of weakness or you’ve already reached your potential.
How might leaders test their limits and develop strength?
How might leaders develop the ability to step into uncertainty?
Excellent Dan,
It’s amazing how many times our pride is deflated by reality from a different area that pulls us back to retreat, nothing like a slice of “humble pie”! It builds us up and knocks us down. The positive side is we start over in a new light and carry on the torch.
Mornin Tim,
Good comment as usual. “I like it!”
Hava great day Tim.
SGT Steve
Thanks Tim. The only way to get where you want to go, assuming there is a challenge, is to be willing to start again.
If we can’t start over, we can’t get there.
I enjoyed this post, and greatly needed it. There are further spiritual truths that enhance these thoughts, which makes this all the more encouraging. Thank you.
Thanks George. Best for the journey.
I have a quotation on my desk that says: “You know great things are coming when everything seems to be going wrong. Old energy is clearing out for new energy to enter. Be Patient!” We just need to add the “get off the couch” and “get help” aspects and keep on trucking!
Thanks Mary Ellen. It seems that a tendency to pull back only causes energy to go down. Energy rises to the occasion.
I love the way you think. Thanks for your work in the world.
Thank you Candra. Best wishes.
Top of the mornin Dan;
I’ve felt the sting of of deflated pride & ego. Pride is without a doubt one of a leaders most challenging road blocks. Recovering our confidence however is only a step away
That 1st step though is often a tuff one. My advice; take a look in the mirror and say, “Suck it up butter-cup and start walk’n!”
Cheers Dan,
SGT Steve
Thanks SGT. Yes. I hate to admit it, but I see a wide swath of arrogance in my life. Perhaps acknowledging it is a good thing.
#2 – Pride is the reason weakness continues. Wow. That is absolutely spot on, and I think of how many times I have not asked for help when I was feeling weak, and how easily I could have “added a few pounds of strength” by simply asking for help.
Thank you for this post… I very much needed this perspective!
Thanks KO. I much prefer giving help to seeking it. I want to be the help giver, not the help receiver. Of course, this is a self-limiting practice.
It’s healthy to say, I’m not sure…what do you think…who might be helpful.
LOVE this: If you wait to feel powerful before you step out, you’re stuck on the couch.
When my wife goes jogging, she sometimes comes back discouraged saying she only managed a fast walk. My response is always, Yes, but you lapped everyone on the couch!
Love it!! Thanks Duane.
For this: How might leaders develop the ability to step into uncertainty?; Don’t fear uncertainty, come to realize that life itself is actually quite uncertain and not everyone gets up each morning upright and respirating. I’ve found that once you accept this you can look at opportunities in a different way. What appears certain may not be so and what appears uncertain may just be a challenge that needs a different approach. When you come to the proverbial fork in the road left may be the certain way (or so you think) and right may look uncertain but is the way you should go. Years of experience and data gathering from many sources (I’ve found) usually tell your gut (yes your gut) that that “uncertain” right road is the one you want. Enjoy the ride, adjust armrests and seat as necessary and always remember the first rule of holes, “when in one stop digging”.
Thanks Duane. Love the rule of holes!
The idea that a gut feeling is the result of experience is protection for novices. If you’re a novice, don’t go with your gut. (An inexperienced gut is dangerous. It underestimates difficulties and over-values benefits. At least experience helps us look at challenges with a little more realism.)
Thanks Duane. Love the rule of holes!
The idea that a gut feeling is the result of experience is protection for novices. If you’re a novice, don’t go with your gut. (An inexperienced gut is dangerous. It underestimates difficulties and over-values benefits. At least experience helps us look at challenges with a little more realism.)
How might leaders test their limits and develop strength. Having a mentor or coach to help see blind spots that may be hindering strength.
Great post! I believe these foundational intangible traits are helpful for leaders everywhere. Many of times you can be a leader without expert knowledge managing a team of experts and you shouldn’t try to hide that fact. You should embrace and rely on your employees and their knowledge. The self realization is so key in order to move forward. I agree to the statement that building upon success comes from realizing their is a lack in something.