Knowledge is power. Except when it’s not.

6/19/2019

So when is knowledge NOT power? When it triggers an unhealthy, automatic response in us that disables the power that COULD be available and makes us conflicted instead.

What kind of trigger could be so unhealthy and disabling? For me that would be the automatic response of SHOULD, OUGHT and MUST. Anytime I learn something (gain knowledge) and it triggers one of those responses for me, I know I’ve given away my power and accepted something much less. Sometimes, I let that loss of power invite conflict – and not creative conflict, either!

What does this look like? Well, consider these bits of knowledge and the SHOULD, OUGHT, or MUST they might generate. . .

I step on the scale and learn I’ve gained weight – “I MUST mind what I’m eating and get this %$#@^% weight off, and soon!” Instead, I might say, “Okay, now I know what I can do to create the change I want!”

I open my bank account and learn that an autopay I’d arranged has put me into overdraft – “I SHOULD have seen this coming! How stupid of me to let that happen!” Instead, I might say, “Great job with the autopay arrangement, but I need to flag my calendar for timing in the future!”

I realize that I’ve missed an appointment, just because I didn’t check my calendar in a timely way – “I OUGHT to be more careful! Now I’ll have to wait weeks to find another appointment!” Instead, I might say, “Everyone makes mistakes, and even now, everything is unfolding in its right timing – I’ll apologize and reschedule!”

We make choices each time we learn or discover something new (which is a bit of knowledge). We can turn that knowledge into power or into defeat, just by managing our self-talk.

What have you learned today, what knowledge have you gained that COULD produce power in your life? How will you speak to yourself about that knowledge so that you can be the powerful person you were meant to be, in every aspect of your life?

About Paula

I help other caregivers – both professionals and family caregivers – acknowledge their pain and learn to practice the many small skills of self-care that can sustain them through the challenges of wholeheartedly caring for others.

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