Power and Limitations
Recently I had an epiphany. While I have known that my weight has been an issue for as long as I remember, and my added fluff is likely more the result of genetics than overeating, I finally began to feel that I alone possessed the power to take control of the beast known as my bathroom scale. With that thought in my mind, and an article on my phone, I decided restart my journey to a healthier self, and this week was a massive win. With 18/6 intermittent fasting, I lost about 7% of my total body weight. By next week I will be exercising as well, which will just further improve my weight loss and my health. In addition, some professional stars aligned and hopefully that means that positive things are on the horizon. So right about now I’m feeling pretty hopeful.
The thing about hope is that it gives you power. What I’m aiming for is the healthy kind of power- the kind that comes with limitations. The power to lose weight, with the limitation of adjusting consumption. The power to make money, with the limitation of having to work hard. Believe it or not, this is the sweet spot. Power without limitations would feel good for a minute and then it would get pretty boring, because everyone needs a challenge. On the other hand, nobody likes limitations with no power. That’s called slavery. Or imprisonment. Allow me to further illustrate my point.
Professionally, I am a psychotherapist. I love the work I do and I would never want to do anything else. I have the power to help people with their problems. That’s a great power to have, but it doesn’t come without limitations. The limit is that I can only help them as much as they want to be helped. I am not the kind of therapist who forces her clients to do the work, and I’m certainly not capable of doing it for them. Plus, it wouldn’t help them very much.
Every so often a client will speak to me about a situation where his or her feelings were hurt by another individual. This is where the knowledge of limited power can really come in handy. It’s important to understand that nobody can control your thoughts, emotions, words, or actions other than you. What you do not have the power to control is the way other people think, feel, speak, or behave. Armed with the complete understanding of limited power, my clients are better equipped to handle a potentially explosive situation, with calmness and dignity.
So there you have it, Genie. You have all the power you need, with the golden shackles of limitations. But don’t be so quick to have Aladdin free you. Because the way I see it, these golden shackles are just as valuable as the power that comes with them.
The thing about hope is that it gives you power. What I’m aiming for is the healthy kind of power- the kind that comes with limitations. The power to lose weight, with the limitation of adjusting consumption. The power to make money, with the limitation of having to work hard. Believe it or not, this is the sweet spot. Power without limitations would feel good for a minute and then it would get pretty boring, because everyone needs a challenge. On the other hand, nobody likes limitations with no power. That’s called slavery. Or imprisonment. Allow me to further illustrate my point.
Professionally, I am a psychotherapist. I love the work I do and I would never want to do anything else. I have the power to help people with their problems. That’s a great power to have, but it doesn’t come without limitations. The limit is that I can only help them as much as they want to be helped. I am not the kind of therapist who forces her clients to do the work, and I’m certainly not capable of doing it for them. Plus, it wouldn’t help them very much.
Every so often a client will speak to me about a situation where his or her feelings were hurt by another individual. This is where the knowledge of limited power can really come in handy. It’s important to understand that nobody can control your thoughts, emotions, words, or actions other than you. What you do not have the power to control is the way other people think, feel, speak, or behave. Armed with the complete understanding of limited power, my clients are better equipped to handle a potentially explosive situation, with calmness and dignity.
So there you have it, Genie. You have all the power you need, with the golden shackles of limitations. But don’t be so quick to have Aladdin free you. Because the way I see it, these golden shackles are just as valuable as the power that comes with them.
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