Power Is an Illusion: How to Reclaim Yours

Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't

Ravi Kumar (India)/Unsplash+

Is power real or relative? Consider this riddle from Game of Thrones. Three great men sit in a room—a king, a priest, and a rich man. Between them stands a swordman. Each man asks the soldier to kill the other two. Who lives, who dies?"

"It depends on the soldier," answers Tyrion Lannister.

"Does it? He has no crown, no gold, and no favor with the gods."

"He has a sword, the power of life and death."

"But if soldiers really rule, why do we pretend kings have all the power? Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick. A shadow on the wall. Even a small man can cast a big shadow."

This riddle illustrates a common trap: The illusion of power. We often give away our power by believing others are more powerful than they really are. We don't recognize the power we actually possess.

Power isn't real—it's relative. Your perception of power shifts based on what you pay attention to. People often appear more powerful than they actually are. That's why successf…