Power

Power is the ability to make choices or influence outcomes. We think that we only have power when circumstances and people turn out and make decisions the way that we would like them. We all do this in various ways. We use our anger to get others attention or to assert some kind of control over people to get them to act differently. We use guilt and manipulation to make others decide something that we know they would normally refuse. We also do anything for anybody to get what we want and control the outcome. Most of these come out of the need to make sure our EGO is getting stroked and to gain approval from others. We all live our lives based on the opinions of others from time to time and use some form of unhealthy power to control people and outcomes so that approval is guarenteed.
Abraham Maslow, one of the fathers of modern psychology, was asked once what it took to get to the top of his Hierarchy of Needs. He replied saying that if people could live their lives independent of the good opinions of others they could reach the pinnacle of his hierarchy - self actualization. Can you imagine living your life not concerned about what other people are going to think about it? I do not mean that you never care for people, meet the needs of others, or consider how something that you may do or say will effect others. Rather I mean using power - the ability to make decisions and influence outcome - without considering what someone's opinion may be. This is how Jesus lived his life. Consider the following passages that talk about how Jesus may have made decisions:

Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you."
The man asked, "What in particular?"
Jesus said, "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself."
The young man said, "I've done all that. What's left?"
"If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me."
That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go.
As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom." Matthew 19:16-24

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Matthew 14:22-23

The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"
"No one, Master."
"Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."

John 8:6-11

In each of these incidents Jesus had the chance to make sure certian people would be happy with him and the outcome. He could have purused the rich young man and tried to convince him that he was making a mistake and explain to him the whole process again, but Jesus did not he let him go and decide himself. Jesus could have continued to take care of the thousands he just fed, but he made them and the disciples leave so he could be alone. I am sure someone was saying, "how dare he make us leave, I need something." Finally, Jesus had the chance to make sure the religious leaders where happy and refused to. I find it hard to think that Jesus lived to please others and made decisions based on others opinion of him. He most definitely helped others and was God in flesh showing the world how to live, but he did not seem to worry to much about what others thought of him personally. He made decisions based on love and from a very different position of power.

he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father

Philippians 2:8-11

Where will we gain power from today? Will we get it from our anger, our manipulation, our need to say yes to everything? Or will we get it from a position of humility, not worrying about the good opinions of others imitating the life of Christ? When we live a life independent of the good opinion of others we find real power. We can make effective decisions and influence outcomes in a way that is not seen as selfish, angry, or needy.

Namaste'