What does it mean to be personally powerful? The generic definition goes something like this: the ability to do something or act in a particular way. Yet we have so many different definitions, ways and thoughts surrounding power. There’s the internal demonstration of power, which focuses on thoughts, feeling and emotions. The external demonstration of power revolves around voice, body language and the ability to influence or persuade.

Here’s the tricky part: There isn’t a formula for which has to come first. In fact, it isn’t unusual to work on both at the same time. Some find it easiest to do the internal work first (which, as a coach, I fully believe in). Others like to “fake it until they make it” and can more easily demonstrate their power externally even if they don’t yet fully believe in themselves (or have to deal with their impostor syndrome).

How To Develop Your Internal Power

If you want to feel powerful, you must first develop your own definition of personal power. We carry a lot of unconscious inherited definitions of what it means to be powerful and where we get our power from. Get in touch with your core beliefs by reflecting deeply on these questions:

1. “What does it mean to me to be powerful?”

2. “What relationships, actions and experiences make me feel powerful, personally?”

3. “What other feelings do I associate with feeling powerful?”