Compliments of Patti Digh:
You have the power.
The power to say yes. The power to say no. (No is a complete sentence, by the way. I’m busy practicing that).
The power to make it happen, or decide it doesn’t need to.
The power to speak up, or not.
The power to be kind, or not.
The power to eat that Krispy Kreme hot-off-the-line glazed doughnut, or not (hypothetical example).
You are bigger than that doughnut.
You have the power to forgive, or sit in the poison of unforgiving and resentfulness.
You have the power to love rather than hate.
You have the power to choose how you show up in the world.
Do you choose to show up as a victim?
Do you choose to show up whole, or broken?
Do you choose to let light in, or stay in the dark?
Do you choose to cultivate a calmness in your center, like a tree deep-rooted in soil? Or do you choose the chaos of being buffeted about by the winds of circumstance?
Your choice. That’s the power you have.
I’m not talking about the kind of power we confuse with greatness, or wealth, or control, or ego. I’m talking about the internal knowing that comes with making strong offers into the world, with being happy in advance, with choosing who and how you are in the world regardless of circumstance.
There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.” That’s the power I mean. The control center of your life is your attitude. It is how you have decided to live this short life you have, consistently, in both the best and worst of times. That’s real power. And only you have it.
How are you using your power? What is in your calm center?
Whatever power you believe you need–you already have it (Think The Wizard of Oz).
Unearth that power, dig it out, release it, let it shine, get it out in the sunshine. Never, ever, ever wait for someone else to give you permission to be powerful.
Namaste’
She
