Reflections on power

[Kasthuri Divya]

The PIECES team and I had SALT sessions with in-person Rituu B. Nanda 2 weeks back. It was an overwhelming experience, where I am still not able to articulate clear, concrete takeaways. However, there have been a lot of shifts in how I think/feel about myself, how I communicate, and how I relate to others.

One of the things I keep revisiting in my head is the discussion about power dynamics. Throughout our conversations, I found myself reflecting on the subtle ways in which power influences our interactions with others. Whether through the language we use, our choice of clothes, or our demeanor, we often communicate messages of superiority or inferiority, consciously or not, which can create discomfort for others.

Like many of us, I see myself as both someone who wields power and someone who feels powerless at times. This awareness is encouraging me to further reflect on my interaction with others, assert my own boundaries, and have more open, respectful interactions. 

The SALT sessions have enabled a deeper understanding of the complexities of power dynamics in our daily lives, encouraging me to be more empathetic and inclusive.

[Kasthuri Divya]

Hi MariJo, thank you for your comment! I completely agee that it takes a lot of effort to have very conscious, healthy ways of interacting with people.

Your questions are intriguing and delve deep into the nuances of power, particularly about the role awareness plays in how we exert power. What's interesting is how we define these different states of power. I think feeling powerful or powerless in inherently internal, like you mentioned, we can fully use these states to connnect only if we're aware of how they play out in our interactions. External power is how I see social hierarchies that are necessary for society to function. However, how those in positions of authority decide to exercise this power is pivotal. They can choose to share responsibilities and power in a humane manner or choose the opposite path.

Thank you, once again, your comment really encouraged me to think more about the role of power in our lives. :)

[Kasthuri Divya]

Hi Pakeeza, thank you! With each SALT conversation, I learn more about myself with regards to how I communicate & behave. I'm sure it is the case with many others :)

[Pakeeza Arif]

Hi Kasthuri, what a thought-provoking blog, this gives me insight into how important it is to work on self-awareness. Thank you for highlighting this.

[MariJo]

Hello and thank you for your insightful reflections on the impact of power in our lives and our relations to others.

there are so many aspects of it that need to be taking into account until we get to be able to relate in ways that are healthy and respectful to everyone.

after reading your post, I further question myself what are the differences between being in a position of power and feeling powerful. Is feeling powerless directly related to the situation we are confronted with? How can we identify and address a situation where we found ourselves in a situation of less power even though we are not feeling powerless?

I came to think in the difference between outer and inner power, which is which and how we manage both? Maybe developing inner power makes more skilled to better handle external power. In my experience of this, I found that sometimes, harmful situations -both to ourselves and others- may arise from our lack of awareness of our relative power positions. and abuse of power comes at times from a profound feeling of powerlessness, which may prompt an overreaction.

it is really important the honest conversation on this complex and sensitive issue. So thank you for getting into it and inviting us all to engage.

love to all