“When you doubt your power, you give power to your doubt.”
— Leo F. Buscaglia, author, motivational speaker, Professor of Special Education
Boys learn to flex muscles, dare one another, show off, and “own their power.” This teaches them to push the envelope, take the chances necessary for success, and risk failure. Men learn there’s little benefit to not acknowledging power.
Historically, women have not been reinforced for this. In the face of compliments, women blush — modesty was long revered as a feminine virtue.
Harriet Rubin — author of The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women — describes this as power anorexia. The power anorexic is always agreeable, can barely manage a “no,” shrugs off compliments, and fails to speak up even when she has solutions, fears losing so bad she stops trying to win, and worse, is harder on herself than anyone else.
Men don’t go out of their way to point out their weaknesses. First, they know others may never even notice. Second, if you offer up your weaknesses, it insults the people who place confidence in you.
Own your power, ladies! And remember the words of street artist Eddie Colla:
“If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking permission.”
