The old view of power is based on having more of something than the competing party. Power with, however, is not a property or possession. It arises from what we do rather than what we have. The shift in perception from seeing power as a noun to seeing it as a verb has surprising potency. Here are two open sentences that invite an exploration of power as a verb.
Try This: Open Sentences That Empower
These open sentences can be used in self-reflection, for journaling, or in a partnered listening exercise.
- I empower myself by…
- What empowers me is…
When we have explored this exercise in workshops, people have described empowering themselves by remembering what's important, doing what really matters, experiencing emotions, exercising regularly, eating well, getting enough sleep, seeking out good company, meditating, paying attention to needs (their own and those of others), laughing, dancing, and singing.
When looking at what empowers them, participants have often mentioned inspiring purposes, friends who encourage and support, and a sense of rootedness in life. Power as verb points us in a very different direction than the noun form does.
Draw on the Strengths of Others
One way we can empower ourselves is by drawing on the strengths of others. A wonderful example of this can be found in T. H. White's The Sword in the Stone, when he tells the story of King Arthur as a boy being tutored by Merlin.
The wizard Merlin, as Arthur's tutor, schooled the boy in wisdom by turning him into various creatures and had him live, for brief periods of time, as a falcon, an ant, a wild goose, a badger, a carp in the castle moat…
The time came when the new King of All England was to be chosen: it would be he who could draw the sword from the stone. All the famous knights, who came to the great tournament, went to the churchyard where the stone mysteriously stood, and tried mightily to yank out the sword that was embedded in it up to the hilt. Heaving and sweating, they competed to prove their superior strength. No deal; tug and curse as they might, the sword did not budge.
When the disgruntled knights departed to return to their jousting, Arthur, who was just a teenager then, lingered behind, went up to the stone to try his own luck. Grasping the sword's handle he pulled with all his strength, until he was exhausted and drenched. The sword remained immobile.
Glancing around, he saw in the shrubbery surrounding the churchyard the forms of those with whom he had lived and learned. There they were: badger, falcon, ant and the others. As he greeted them with his eyes, he opened again to the powers he had experienced in each of them — the industry, the cunning, the quick boldness, the perseverance. Knowing they were with him, he turned back to the stone and, breathing easy, drew forth from it the sword, as smooth as a knife from butter.9
When we draw on a sense of fellowship, belonging, and connection, it is as if we are remembering our root system. This is power with, which comes from the larger circle that we can draw on and which acts through us.
In his workshops, Chris sometimes asks people to remember a time when they did something that made a difference. It doesn't have to be anything grand, just something positive that might not have occurred otherwise. Then, in groups of three or four, he asks people to take turns telling their stories and also identifying what strengths helped them take these actions.
After doing this, people often say, "Hearing you describe using this strength helps me recognize it in myself." When other people open to their strengths, it can help us open to ours as well. We can catch this type of power from one another.
Whenever you are struggling, remember the sword in the stone. Think of trying to pull it out. Then pause.
Remember those who inspire you. Think of them around you and feel their strengths joining yours. Think of all who support and believe in you. Draw strength from them as well. Think of who and what you are acting for and feel their power acting through you too.
References:
9. Quoted in Joanna Macy, Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age (Gabriola Island, BC: New Society Publishers, 1983), 134. Adapted from T. H. White, The Sword in the Stone (New York: Putnam, 1939).
©2022 by Joanna Macy, PhD and Chris Johnstone. All rights reserved.
Excerpted from the book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power ©2022 by Joanna Macy, PhD and Chris Johnstone. Printed with permission from NewWorldLibrary.com.
Joanna Macy, PhD and Chris Johnstone are the authors of Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We're in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power. ...