Power is fundamental to our lives. Both our daily life and the history of human existence and evolution are punctuated and shaped by 'power play'. And vice versa.
The word 'power' evokes different emotions in different people in different situations. Some situations make one distrust that power completely. Situations such as the self-serving and criminal non-performance of a lot many bureaucrats (so-called public servants). They make us believe in the words of Lord Acton: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." On the other hand, other exemplary public servants who put people first, inspire trust in their power.
Similarly, the unconditional love of a mother towards her baby makes one celebrate the beauty of the near-absolute power the mother wields over her child. And the cruelty of an unloving mother who sells her child, leads us to lament the power that was bestowed on her.
Thus, where there is trust, power is perceived as a force for good; on the other hand, where distrust rules the roost, power is perceived as evil. And indeed, the perceptions mirror reality to a large extent.
This reveals to us the essential nature of power. Its two-sided nature. Power by itself is neither good nor bad. The power of power lies in the capability of the individual or group that wields the power to use it for 'good' or for 'bad'. For you or for me (or both, or neither).
As Aristotle says, "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do".
In this sense, a public servant or leader who can be unconditionally trusted to act in the interests of the people allows himself to become powerless in front of the people as a whole. And an incorrigibly corrupt public servant too actually tends to become powerless in front of the people as a whole. (Note that for any given individual/group, the servant can remain powerful as the effects of his actions are different for each individual/group.)
Similarly, a mother who loves her child unconditionally allows herself to become powerless (which is precisely why the child tends to take her for granted). The same applies to a cruel mother too; interestingly, her child tends to become indifferent or vengeful in time, because of the same reason - her tendency to become powerless!
Let me close with the following food for thought for each one of us:
The word 'power' evokes different emotions in different people in different situations. Some situations make one distrust that power completely. Situations such as the self-serving and criminal non-performance of a lot many bureaucrats (so-called public servants). They make us believe in the words of Lord Acton: "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." On the other hand, other exemplary public servants who put people first, inspire trust in their power.
Similarly, the unconditional love of a mother towards her baby makes one celebrate the beauty of the near-absolute power the mother wields over her child. And the cruelty of an unloving mother who sells her child, leads us to lament the power that was bestowed on her.
Thus, where there is trust, power is perceived as a force for good; on the other hand, where distrust rules the roost, power is perceived as evil. And indeed, the perceptions mirror reality to a large extent.
This reveals to us the essential nature of power. Its two-sided nature. Power by itself is neither good nor bad. The power of power lies in the capability of the individual or group that wields the power to use it for 'good' or for 'bad'. For you or for me (or both, or neither).
Thus, real power originates from variability. And from the resulting uncertainty regarding its exercise.
As Aristotle says, "What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do".
In this sense, a public servant or leader who can be unconditionally trusted to act in the interests of the people allows himself to become powerless in front of the people as a whole. And an incorrigibly corrupt public servant too actually tends to become powerless in front of the people as a whole. (Note that for any given individual/group, the servant can remain powerful as the effects of his actions are different for each individual/group.)
Similarly, a mother who loves her child unconditionally allows herself to become powerless (which is precisely why the child tends to take her for granted). The same applies to a cruel mother too; interestingly, her child tends to become indifferent or vengeful in time, because of the same reason - her tendency to become powerless!
Let me close with the following food for thought for each one of us:
- What powers do/can we wield in different spheres of our lives?
- How variable are we in the exercise of these powers?
- Are we using our variability and untrustworthiness to wield this power for ourselves?
- Or are we making continuous efforts to make us trustworthy to those who we say we serve, thereby allowing ourselves to become powerless, and making others powerful?
- Which people, institutions and ideas exercise power on us?
- (Leaving the remaining three corresponding questions (mirroring the set above) to you).
Wishing all of us perennial and ever-increasing powerlessness in selfless service - the one and only way to eternal and true power! The power to empower others! Thank you for listening.
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