Posts Tagged ‘power’
The Power Of One
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what’s true.
One life can make the difference,
You see, IT’S UP TO YOU!
Author Unknown
A Psychologist’s View of the The Power of One
Powerlessness
Most people who consult a psychologist feel powerless, or at least overwhelmed by circumstances. They don’t want to hear about the power of one! First, they want simply to be heard. They want to be acknowledged and not feel foolish for feeling powerless. Then ideally they want the power of many. They want the circumstances fixed ~ now! Of course, that’s the psychologist’s job: to help put their predicament in perspective and to stay withe them until they are willing to move forward again.
Portfolio workers
Increasingly though, work & organizational psychologists help people who run portfolio careers. Portfolio workers often consult us when they are feeling powerless, or unappreciated! The reality though is that they have massive power. In a sense, each person works in a niche. In reality, they work at the nexus of a great network. Everything they do, or don’t do, potentially makes a massive difference to the world.
Portfolio workers are the new bosses
There are many things that frustrate us and on which we voice an opinion in the pub or on a blog. In the ‘olden days’, solving those problems would be in the gift of a ‘boss’. In our interconnected world, we can do anything about anything. Because we are so powerful now, we need to take the responsibility of ‘bosses’ on our shoulders.
Are we ready to change the world?
Do we really want to solve the problem in the way we say? Have we thought about the side-effects? Are we willing to take responsibility for the side effects?
We have become so powerful that the fun of complaining in the pub is over for us!
And use our influence wisely?
What we really have to do is to list all the changes in the world that we want to see. Put them in order of importance. Become sufficiently expert to understand the ripples that we will cause and the costs of our solution to other people. And do it.
The interconnnected world is also a moral world. Sitting around complaining when you have the power to act marks us as parasites. But action requires moral accountability.
Are we willing to be accountable for the small things we do, and not do?
A currency of visions not a currency of force.Thank *** we live in the 21st century!
Posted October 25, 2009
on:Masculine cultures are not about ‘guys’ – they are about force
Yesterday, I heard two female politicians bickering on BBC Radio 4 – talking over each other as the male moderator said amiably. A tedious, wearisome listen.
This ‘spectacle’ (what is the auditory equivalent?) neatly illustrates the point that masculine cultures are not to do with ‘guys’. Masculine cultures are to do with the currency of force.
Britain’s masculine culture
Britain has long had a masculine culture. Though smooth and very often, very witty, British culture is not so much controlled as controlling. When it is relaxed and funny, as it often is on BBC Radio 4, it is also complacent. The funny people live in the certain knowledge that their status in the world is not being challenged, let alone threatened.
Watch how they react if they have to account for themselves! That is the test of a culture. How do we respond to the huge variety of visions in the world – and our need to fit our visions into the visions of others? What do we do when people long-ignored want room to pursue their visions?
Sadly, we often move to defend “our right” to live as a law unto ourselves. We often demand that the newly-enfranchised make room for us, even though we have never made room for them, and certainly don’t intend to start now.
Britain’s masculine culture in the literature and film
The masculine culture of Britain is an old story and is often told in literature and film. For utter complacency, read P.G. Woodehouse and the relationship between Bertie and his butler Jeeves. For the ongoing struggle, read Rumpole stories and his manouvering around institutionalized class in the legal system.
And for an alternative to a ‘masculine culture’, find yourself a copy of Goodbye Mr Chips -the old musical or the modern version with Martin Clues – both are great. Settle down for a charming 1.5 hours and the better possibilities a feminine culture.
I am so glad to be living in the 21st century!
What a relief! Not least for guys who must be heartily sick of the pushing-and-shoving they have been required to endure.
In the 21st century, our currency will be less of force and more of visions.
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