The wisest have the most authority
How many times have you thought about attempting something, like writing on a certain topic or in a certain style, and given up because you weren’t convinced you could? Or taking on a certain project but lacked the confidence? Or sharing an idea but felt too embarrassed or afraid of how people might respond?
Now you might be wondering what any of this has to do with authority. Let me explain.
Generally speaking, authority is something we associate with certain powers that someone or something has over others. To have the authority to grant a person citizenship is one such example.
Authority also means expertise or mastery of a certain body of knowledge such as someone who is an authority on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in war veterans.
The kind of authority that I’m interested in here is a little different because it is a lot more personal and has to do with authorship. What do I mean?
The kind of authority that I’m talking about is the authority of authorship that we can give ourselves over our thoughts, beliefs and actions.
Imagine wanting to write something that you had little knowledge of. How are you able to think and act with authority in this case? Would you be fooling yourself by trying to act with authority?
No, not at all. Not if you see authority as the permission and freedom that you give yourself to be the author of your thoughts and actions. Once this permission has been given, the doors to information and action open.
For instance, when I started to write this post, I wasn’t quite sure what I would have to say. I did have the germ of an idea that I wanted to develop and communicate but that was all.
If I had little or no authority, I would have given up. I would have decided that I did not know enough about the subject and that there were others far more competent than me who would and have tackled it better.
But because I gave myself permission to be a conscious *author* of my thoughts and ideas, I pushed on. I became less concerned with how little I knew and more curious about what I did know and how I knew it.
I also did some research – found some quotes, read some articles and consulted the etymology dictionary.
I made the decision that I did not have to be an authority i.e. an expert on the subject of authority but that I could act with authority i.e. act with the freedom to explore and develop my ideas.
Here’s what happens when you think and act with authority:
Thinking and Acting with authority opens doors
When you feel you have the authority to do something, you tend to move in the direction of whatever it is you want to do. Doors open for you, physically, mentally and psychologically giving you access to fresh ideas, resources and creative energy.
When you don’t feel you have authority, you remain stuck behind those doors fearful of moving forward and therefore never making any progress.
Thinking and Acting with authority boosts your confidence
True authority comes without fear. You’re not afraid to encounter different points of view. You’re not afraid to admit that you may not have seen or understood certain things.
Most important of all, you’re not concerned with proving yourself right and someone else wrong. However, you’re confident enough to state and explain, when necessary and where possible, your point of view. After all, you are the author-ity of your point of view even if that view is shared by others.
Thinking and Acting with authority makes you responsible
Being the author-ity of your thoughts and actions, you realize that you have to be responsible for them. You do your best to use your thoughts and actions wisely. You neither waste them nor abuse them. And, being the author-ity of your thoughts and actions, you know you can always change, modify or abandon them altogether if they do not serve you well.
Imagine thinking and acting with authority. Imagine being the conscious author of your thoughts, beliefs and actions for whatever goal or outcome you desire. How empowering would that be?