logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
47m 45s

Personal Power

Anna Toonk
About this episode

Power is complex and there are many kinds of power. By definition, power is the ability to act or produce an effect. Power is the capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect, legal or official capacity or right. Power is the possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Personal power, on the other hand, is the ability to influence people and events with or without formal authority. 

It is more of a person’s attitude or state of mind, and not an attempt to maneuver or control others. Personal power is aimed at self-mastery, competence, vision, positive personal (human) qualities, and service. When we take the time to reflect on our personal power, we can begin to see what we stand for, and what we’ll settle for. What we will and will not compromise. 

While it is easy to confuse aggression with power, being aggressive and having a don’t-care attitude is not personal power. Rather, it leads us to engage in self-destructive activities. Aggression and arrogance, as opposed to personal power, end up hurting us in the long run. Personal power should be the force that steers us towards a space of quiet, listening, and understanding before acting or asserting dominance. It makes us regard the people in our life because we want to earn their respect and also respect them. Join us in this week’s episode of How To Be Human as we dive into these topics, and much more.

Listen to the episode on Simplecast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Topics Covered

  • Can personal power come from something outside of yourself
  • Personal Power Connectors
  • Ego and Personal Power
  • Personal Power Primary Aim
  • Right and Wrong, Good and Bad
  • Discipline Creates the space of Personal Power
  • Personal Power and Strength

Resources Mentioned


Follow Us:


Up next
Feb 2024
Hi, remember me?
It’s been a minute ya’ll! The winds of change are blowing. There is a lot to reflect on right now, and Anna is here to be your mirror. In this ep, she gives us a tarot reading to check in on where we are at and how to get to where we are going as we drop into a new year. But befo ... Show More
22m 30s
Nov 2023
Meditation with Vanessa The Aquarean
We know you know that you should probably start meditating again. But what many of us don’t know is exactly what it really is or if we are doing it right. There are different types, different reasons to try it, and many excuses for not ; so we asked Vanessa the Aquarean to talk t ... Show More
1h 3m
Oct 2023
A Tarot Reading for Grief
It’s Halloween people, and boy are things a little scary. The veils are thin, but the vibes are heavy. This time of year is always both a reality check and a point of surrender, but this go round is especially penetrating.Scorpio season is deep fall. It refuses to look away. If y ... Show More
22m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
Balance of Personal Power
Get the Daily Boost five days a week at MotivationToMove.com If you've ever found yourself struggling to stay on track every day, your personal power is out of balance. Before I go on, let me say that personal power is more than a slogan and, it is not automatically activated upo ... Show More
12m 52s
Mar 2022
Power: A woman's guide to living and leading without apology with Kemi Nekvapil
P O W E RHow does that word make you feel?For many of us women, we think of others as having power over us.Well, my guest today is here to change the way you see power. And shift your thinking about what power is and who gets to have it, and live life fully and without apology.Ke ... Show More
1h 3m
Feb 2023
Authority Is More Important Than Social Skills
Influence comes down to a person's level of authority. When someone is perceived as having power, status, and worth, others readily follow them and comply with them.Authority isn't just a matter of position. It's also a personal quality.When people attempt to develop their influe ... Show More
45m 57s
Jun 2020
12. It's Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It: How To Communicate Power
Power exists in every relationship — whether we like that idea or not — and to be effective in any role, power needs to be understood. In this episode, Matt Abrahams sits down with Professor of Organizational Behavior Deborah Gruenfeld to discuss her new book, Acting with Power: ... Show More
20m 5s
Mar 2022
Ep225 - Kelly McGonigal | The Willpower Instinct
Psychologist Kelly McGonical explores what influences us to procrastinate, why we fail to resist temptation, and teaches that small interventions can have large, positive outcomes. Based on her wildly popular course "The Science of Willpower," her book “The Willpower Instinct” is ... Show More
56m 36s
Oct 2023
You Don’t Fear Your Own Power
In this video, Teal Swan reveals the truth about fear of power and explains what is really happening when you think you are "afraid of your power". She also shows you how to overcome this illusion and step into your true power. By watching this video, you will discover the hidden ... Show More
8m 38s
Nov 2022
The Real Rules of Power
Most leadership advice says the same thing: to be a good leader, you need to be generous, humble, and authentic.My guest, professor of organizational behavior Jeffrey Pfeffer, would say that kind of advice may make us feel good and represent the world as we'd like it to be, but i ... Show More
38m 6s
Oct 2016
TU11: Gain Influence and Balance Power in Important Relationships
Power dynamics are infused in all relationships, be it romantic, business, political, parent-child, friendships, etc. Most of us want important relationships where both parties feel a sense of mutual respect. While this can sometimes come naturally and with ease, when the balance ... Show More
29m 47s
Apr 2022
Wielding Kindness To Win Your Battles
#986: The power of…kindness. As you’ll hear right at the top of the show, set aside your altruistic thoughts about “kindness” and hear Tom Ziglar and I present it as a primary tool you can use to gain trust, attract people to you, and be the biggest person in the room. The spirit ... Show More
55m 17s