what is power?

Question

and what makes a person powerful?

Answer 1

.....Power is having something other people want, so you can influence them to get what you want.

It comes in many forms. Wealth, political authority, organizational authority, military capability, resources, relationships with powerful people, beauty, fame, physical strength or ability, talent, creativity, knowledge, skill, experience, drive, character strength, charisma, leadership ability...the more of these things you have, the more powerful you are.

Of course power is only potent when you use it to good effect. You can exchange one form of power for another. You can use it to get something you want. If you hurt others in some way when you use power, you can create enemies...who might someday use their power to hurt you back.

In other words, it's not true that only high-level political leaders or military commanders have power. It comes in many forms. A mother-in-law can have power and know how to use it in cunning ways. A toddler has power...and doesn't hesitate to use it. Paris Hilton has power as a celebrity, even though she has absolutely no talent whatsoever.

What power do you have?

Answer 2

Power is the ability to self-regulate and not be swayed by others' beliefs unless you want to be. Power is choice. Being able to control every aspect of one's life makes that person powerful.

Read Victor Frankl... and you'll see what I mean. Even in a Natzi concentration camp, Frankl was able to control everything about his life. At all times. That is power.

Answer 3

Power is the ability to pretend that you are better than you truly are, and by using your own cunning and deceit, gaining a position in society or in a person's life where you can control them. Having power is all about having resources, charisma, but most importantly, an invulnerable ego. It is those people who cannot be swayed and those who don't care about what others think that gain power, and use it for their own benefits. Power is all in our heads, however. A person only can attain and retain power so long as they pretend to be indomitable; they show no weakness so as to discourage our efforts to oppose them. People who have power instill fear in others, and it for this reason that nobody dares challenge the people who hold our government and governments around the world in their hands. Power is cancerous; once a man uses power for his own good, he will slowly become enveloped in it, until he becomes truly evil, it is for this reason that I myself try to disassociate myself from power, because I could have a good deal of it if I wanted. Finally, it is in words that we humans hold our greatest power; and it is through writing that we are able to deceive, but also to teach. Those who possess true power are those who don't try to use it, and only do so to help others to understand the ways of the world. I hope you may ponder on these words.

Answer 4

"Power" for ME is...

Having the financial ability to fulfill my "realistic" dreams of writing songs...
I don't even care if I'm the one to perform them...
I don't have much "stage presence," but I do think my songs are good...
I would love to make some supplemental income in the "song-writing" field...(fiction, too)...

The only thing stopping me is my financial state...(which means all my "quality" energy time is used up making a living in the non-music field, so I have almost nil (energy) at the end of the day to pursue my "true-but-still-realistic" dreams...
Hopefully, within my own lifetime...
That's "power" to ME...

Answer 5

Power is an illusion.
Real power is not a foregone conclusion.
Guard your freedom wisely.

Answer 6

happiness

Answer 7

respect

short and simple