“It is through our powerlessness that we can access all the power that we ever need.” Anonymous
Many of us are apt to see powerlessness as weakness. The very thought of being powerless in this unpredictable, often volatile, world of ours can be terrifying.
While we humans have abilities, strengths and degrees of personal power, the truth is we weren’t designed to be all-powerful.
So, what would it be like to have the power to remake others and the world to our liking? The very thought of that kind of power is anxiety-provoking, because the changes we might force would more than likely be worse than the problem we were trying to cure. We are not infinitively wise or omniscient. We cannot see around corners. Consequently, unlimited power in human hands would be utterly disastrous for the world, and so life protects us by restricting our power.
That being the case, I suggest that, instead of seeing our relative powerlessness as a threat, why not embrace it? There are, after all, many gifts that come with powerlessness.
Some of the Gifts of Powerlessness
“I may be powerless in this situation, but I am not helpless.” Anonymous
The phrase “the gift of powerlessness” might sound paradoxical at first, but it’s actually a profound concept rooted in spiritual, psychological, and literary traditions. It suggests that recognizing our limitations — our inability to control everything — is not a weakness, but a doorway to transformation.
When we embrace our powerlessness…
- We are protected from making monumental decisions that may irrevocably affect the lives and well-being of others. We might think we’re smart and capable, however we don’t entirely know what effect our decisions and actions will have on the lives and well-being of others as well as on the planet.
- We become more dependent on a Higher Power, however we define that power. Thus we can let go of the things we can’t change and leave them to e.g. Fate, God, Life, or Nature. It’s a much easier way to walk through the world.
- We begin to recognize, seek and utilize the power of the Collective. We are social animals, after all. When we come together with others, we often can accomplish more than we can in the singular. Besides, whether in creative projects or community work, allowing others to contribute without needing to steer everything is freeing.
- We feel free to be honest about uncertainty and our limits. Vulnerability builds trust. In both group settings and one-on-one conversations, acknowledging “I don’t know” can invite deeper dialogue and shared growth with others. Letting go of the illusion of control and embracing vulnerability places us on a path to grace, love, and renewal.
- We become stronger not weaker, when we yield our so-called “superpowers”. In a world where ego often masquerades as strength, this surrender is crucial, because an unfettered ego becomes insatiable and, as a result, our moral clarity dims . However, when pride is peeled away, when pretension fades, something honest emerges: humility, empathy, integrity and a quiet kind of power — a strength unburdened by the need to control.
