Arrogance and Real Power

I have felt arrogant. I criticize Americans for being arrogant. For example, the police were much more arrogant to me in the USA than they have been in Peru or anywhere else really.

But when you really feel powerful inside and you know you are powerful, not because of your gun or your title or position in some bureaucracy, but because of your inner strength, your integrity or your ability to influence people so they want to do things voluntarily or because you are respected and listened to for your ideas and not because of your position or credentials or clothes or weapons that you carry, then... then is when you really feel the inner power. And you no longer need to feel a false sense of power which we call arrogance. And this kind of true, inner power is a quiet kind of power. You don't need to make a lot of noise when you feel this kind of power. You are also able to listen better.

I think I am starting to move from arrogance to truly feeling powerful inside. It is an important psychological and emotional shift. It is part of the healing process. Children don't start out feeling arrogant, by the way. This is a compensation, let's say, for the lack of feeling powerful inside their homes and schools. If a person feels arrogant, it is a sign they have an unmet emotional need to feel powerful.

S. Hein
Chiclalyo, Peru
March 16, 2005