First Power of Presence: Protecting Victim
Before I dive into the First Power of Presence I want to set the stage.
Recently I’ve been reflecting back over the last few years as I embark on really putting myself out into the world and launching an idea, a brand, a movement that I believe to be incredibly powerful and transformational. Hindsight is always 20/20 as the saying goes and it’s incredible to see how the dots have connected a path that’s led me right here. It has by no means been a straight or vaguely clear path at many points along the way. There’s been so much bushwhacking and clearing happening, yet I knew that if I followed the little beacon of light I could always see and feel the view would open up and some sense of clarity would come.
A moment of clarity is what led me to not only create but also share The Linger Movement and the Seven Powers of Presence. To be honest, these are both phrases that another version of myself would have brushed off, would have walked right by, would have probably even laughed at. ‘Ain’t nobody got time for that’ was certainly a favorite phrase. Yet today, by taking the time to slow down, to disconnect from the everyday fight for busy that I was in, and to create the space needed for myself to learn how to simply be and thrive, I am living a 180 degree turn from a former version of myself. It’s a constant learning and evolution, it doesn’t happen overnight or even a matter of days or weeks, yet with small shifts and increased awareness it’s amazing what you can notice in yourself and others. It just starts with a little bit of presence.
It’s through my learning and translation of the seven Powers of Presence that I’ve been able to bring more awareness and consciousness to my daily life. I have experienced the value, the change, and the energy that presence brings to life. This in turn brought the idea of The Linger Movement to me and I believe that it is my essence and the first piece of a much bigger legacy I hope to leave.
So that’s a little bit about how I got here and why I’m so passionate about sharing these Seven Powers of Presence along with The Linger Movement. Let’s jump in and start creating waves.
First Power of Presence: Protecting Victim
Ever find yourself with the voice in your head saying something like (or maybe you’re even saying out loud) ‘Why bother…’, ‘I don’t even know where to start…’, or ‘What’s the point of even trying I’m just never going to…’? Feeling that sense of defeat that leads to withdraw, loss of motivation, and heaps of self doubt?
This is tell-tale first Power of Presence. It’s what I call the Protecting Victim.
Worry, confusion, and ultimately at the bottom of it all, fear of rejection. This is the energy that consumes us at the first power. It’s almost like it eats away at us and becomes incredibly toxic over time.
What I find with this energy is that our days become all about self preservation and protection. And in doing so we retreat, put walls up, and disconnect from those around us and with our true selves. We also find it really difficult to make decisions and to take action which then, in my experience, causes the feelings of defeat and confusion to heighten.
When I get overwhelmed by a situation or don’t feel like I have control that’s when this first power shows up for me. I disconnect incredibly quickly and remove myself. It’s almost like I become a hermit in a cave.
Sometimes acting out of self preservation or withdrawing is necessary. I don’t want to be part of toxic situations that’s for sure. However, when I retreat and am not showing up as my full self in business or life for fear of rejection or that I haven’t got it all figured out, that’s when I know the first power is in the driver’s seat and I’ve lost control. I then can’t make decisions and feel victim to everything around me.
With the awareness that I have now and knowledge of how the first power shows up for me I can watch myself do things from this energy and it’s much easier to course correct, but that wasn’t always the case.
As a reminder, we all experience all of the seven Powers of Presence at different times, in different capacities and intensities, and there’s no good and bad. This is the human experience. What’s important is to first, begin to have awareness of each of the Powers and how they show up for you, and second, learn how to utilize the higher energy powers to shake off the heavy lower energy levels. When you’re operating from the higher Powers of Presence the world is open, connected, joyful. And, the more awareness you have you can call on different energies as you need them.
So I welcome you to think about, observe, take note of how this first Power may show up for you. It may be helpful to write things down, journal, whatever helps you. And with all of this just be curious. There’s no judgement, just greater awareness.
When does it appear?
What triggers these feelings?
How long do you sense that it lasts for?
What do you notice about how you show up in the world when you’re feeling the first Power? What would it take to shake off some or all of this energy?
Up next we’ll cover the second Power of Presence so stay tuned!
If you’re an eager beaver and don’t want to wait for each level in detail you can grab my Seven Powers of Presence guide here. I share this simple guide with all my clients to help them gain awareness and presence and now you can have it too.
And finally, if you’re ready to dive deep right now you can sign up for your very own Powers of Presence assessment and debrief. Read more here.
For a short period I’m offering this transformational Powers of Presence assessment and a full debrief to you for only $197 (normally $400). This price won’t last for long after this series is completed.
xoxo
jessie
Note: This piece contains my interpretation of the copyrighted work of Bruce D Schneider and the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC).