Are you giving your power away?

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any!”
Alice Walker

You have power, we all do!

The question is though, did you know that?

One’s power is something we possess that energizes and fuels humans to be at their best. We all have it, but we don’t always use it each day. And as athletes, we can fall into the trap of giving our power away. When this happens, it limits us from being, living, engaging with others, and competing at our best.

Let me explain what I mean when I say giving your power away to someone else.

When we get angry and lash out at someone, we are giving our power away to that individual. If you are offended by someone else’s actions or words, you are giving your power away to them. 

You are allowing the actions of another to dictate your actions through your response. You are responsible for your emotions, actions, responses, and words. You are giving your power away to someone else when you allow another individual’s actions to control your actions and/or response. 

When you respond in a manner that is not who you are or desire to be, you are giving the other person authority over you by responding or acting like someone who is not your best self.

Let me give you a few examples of language people use when they give their power away by responding, acting, or saying something that doesn’t represent who they are:

• “He/she made me do that”   
• “You make me feel angry or sad.”
• “I can’t…” Or “I have to…” Or “I am stuck”
• “I don’t have a choice or option here.”

At the end of the day, when you are giving your power away, in essence, you are unwilling to take responsibility for your life, your sport, your actions, or responses within your wholistic self as the total athlete (mind, body, spirit).
 

When giving your power away, you begin to seek out rescuers to help save you from your actions and choices as well as your circumstances. Your rescuer can look like a coach, teammate, parent, significant other, or substances like alcohol, drugs, and even food.

When things go wrong or difficult circumstances arise, you start to look around for a rescuer to save you from your reality. Or you begin to blame the circumstances or other people for your problems and struggles. 

So how do you avoid the trap of giving your power away?

Know who you are! How do you answer the question: Who are you? At the epicenter of this answer needs to be something that can’t be taken away from you. Who you are is at the core of you, your identity, and needs to be part of you regardless of where you are, who you are with, or when in your life.

Take responsibility for your life. Own your choices, don’t make excuses, or blame others, or your environment. You always have a choice!!! You may not always like your choices, but you always have a choice. Take responsibility for your choices and your life.

Have a heart of gratitude. Joy keeps you centered and anchored even when chaos surrounds you. Choosing gratitude allows you to function and live fully human. When you blame others and experience negative emotions, it is difficult to function, compete, and live from your best self. Coming from a place of gratitude allows you to be who you are created to be. 

You have power, use it, but don’t give it away. You will live out your best when you are fully powered!

Jonathan