What is the difference between power and control?  Someone who was unfamiliar with my journaling program said "You are always talking about power, Michelle.  Does that mean I'm supposed to be Wonder Woman or The Six Million Dollar Man?"  "Of course not, you're not supposed to be anything, but if you understand the difference between power and control, and you truly desire to be one of those characters than You Could Be!"

     What is power?  Power is the energy of our truth.  It is the energy that is created when we follow our desires and passions and then back these desires and passions with the energy of commitment.  Power being based on truth can therefore never be misused.  Thoughts and actions based on truth leave you feeling empowered.  People surrounding you feel energized, hopeful, peaceful and connected.

     People often believe that they are wielding their power when in actuality they are trying to be "in control".  Control says I'm afraid that this or that won't happen if I don't try to make it happen.  Control is the complete absence of trust.  It says that I don't trust it to happen without lots of help from me.  It is the feeling of the need to make it happen.  "If I don't do something I will miss out and not have my dream job, my soul mate, or my perfect family.  Control is energy of fear.  Control being based on fear is always a misuse of energy.  Control leaves one feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.  Since control is disempowering, you may feel "in control", but everyone around you feels resentful and probably conflictual.  

     If you compare the "empowerment" aspect to the "in control" piece, even syntactically you can see the difference between the two ideas.  Empowerment contains the prefix em which according to the American Heritage Dictionary means; "to be in, to be, intensive connection, in, into, within."  You can't miss the obvious connections in this concept.  Not to mention, empowerment is literally one word.  "In control" on the other hand is two separate words.  To separate is to reduce the power and is to inspire fear energy.  With the phrase "in control" you try to bring something "in" from the outside.  You can't control what is "out there."  Even the physical words, empowerment and in control, exemplify their differences.

     The difference between power and control is therefore the underlying energy.  The energy behind power comes from within and is based on your personal truth.  The energy behind control has an external basis in separation and fear.   When you understand that truth and power will allow you to manifest your desires and passions and that control and fear keeps you separated from these desires and passions, you can then make the choice to be empowered or "in control".