Have you noticed that there are so many conversations floating around about personal power? In this blog post, I want to go deeper and explore the idea of authentic power.

Over the past year, Mel Robbins has created a ripple effect with her book, The Let Them Theory. Although the book focuses more on allowing others to be exactly who they are, the underlying discussion is about harnessing our own authentic power and choosing to set the tone for our lives ourselves, regardless of what others are doing.

So, are you curious to learn more? Let’s take a deeper look at what authentic power means.

What Is Authentic Power—and Why Does It Matter?

“When the personality comes fully to serve the energy of its soul, that is authentic empowerment.” -Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul.

In his groundbreaking book, Seat of the Soul, Zukav explores how creating authentic power means aligning your actions with your deepest values and your soul’s purpose.

At the time this book was released, it was one of the first to dive into the possibility of living in alignment with our soul’s purpose.

I recall watching Zukav discuss authentic power on The Oprah Winfrey Show. (I used to watch her show most days after school!) And I loved listening to him speak about the mothership, referring to our soul. He also described us as being a small boat sailing alongside the mothership.

So, basically, we’re given the freedom of choice. And when we choose to align with the direction of our soul, we are connecting with our authentic power. When we choose another direction, we will likely encounter challenges that ultimately encourage our growth.

Connecting with our soul opens the door to doing the meaningful work we are here to do. We become driven by a sense of purpose, giving our lives more meaning.

The Trap of External Power

“External power is the ability to manipulate and control. Authentic power is the alignment of your personality with your soul.”— Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul.

The idea of authentic power can be confusing. Maybe that’s because the concept of power itself is a challenge.

We are so driven and influenced by images and thoughts of external power in our daily lives.

External power is measured by the world’s standards: wealth, status, and material possessions. While these markers can offer comfort and a sense of achievement, as we know all too well, they are not the foundation of lasting fulfillment.

In fact, if we rely too heavily on external power, it can lead to greater emotional turmoil and confusion. We become disconnected from our authentic selves and the deeper needs and purpose of our lives.

Oprah Winfrey, probably the greatest teacher of authenticity, reminds us that her riches or fame do not define her success. Instead, her willingness to be vulnerable and true to herself -her authentic power – has been her secret weapon.

By recognizing the limitations of external power, we open the door to create authentic power—one that is rooted in self-awareness, compassion, and genuine connection. This shift allows us to reclaim our lives and step into a power that is both enduring and deeply fulfilling.

Read more about ‘the beauty of enough’ here.

Authentic Power: Spiritual Guidance and the Tao Te Ching Lead Us in the Right Direction

I recently heard Liz Gilbert discuss her new book, All the Way to the River, in a podcast. During the show, she shares that she gave all of her power to her partner, which led her down a spiral. Over time, through working a program, she states that she has found healing and deep meaning in her life.

She has found a new sense of peace and freedom by nurturing her own power within, which aligns with her higher power and likely her authentic power.

Learn more here.

The Tao Te Ching also teaches us about this higher power that is limitless and so vast that we can’t even begin to comprehend its power.

I think of the Tao as being part of my mothership. Its messages are so calming and clear, constantly reminding me that we have enough, that we are enough, and that there is an unlimited source of eternal goodness and creativity that we all have access to in our lives.

The Disconnection Dilemma: When We Lead from Fear Instead of Truth

“Believing things that aren’t true for us at the deepest level is the commonest way in which we lose our integrity. Then suffering arises—not as punishment, but as a signal that we’re being torn apart. The purpose of suffering is to help us locate our internal divisions, reclaim our reality, and heal these inner rifts.”
― Martha Beck, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self

I think she’s talking about what happens when our little boat veers off course.

We have our integrity, our mothership, and we have the freedom of choice. When we even unintentionally lose the connection between the two, we may become lost at sea.

Our inner compass has shifted to a place within us that’s not aligned with who we are and where we truly want to go.

Thankfully, our mothership communicates with us in many different ways. It sends us signals to let us know that we’ve gone off course, and we always have the chance to reconnect with our truth.

Can you relate to these feelings of integrity and alignment—and how it feels when they’re out of alignment? How does this show up for you in your life?

Boundaries Are Love, Not Rejection

“And just in case you interpret boundary setting as callous and unloving, I want to be clear: naming my limits doesn’t give me permission to walk all over anyone else’s boundaries or refuse to be generous. In fact, I’m much more attuned to the boundaries of others now that I’m right with my own. And as for generosity, I’m now generous out of the desire to give rather than out of some fear that I won’t be loved if I don’t.” ― Nancy Levin, Setting Boundaries Will Set You Free: The Ultimate Guide to Telling the Truth, Creating Connection, and Finding Freedom.

When we’ve been able to connect with our authentic power and align with our soul’s journey, the last thing we want to do is to be thrown off course.

Your little boat:

Imagine your little boat, working hard to stay in alignment with your big mothership. The waters can be rough, and the boat may seem wobbly at first. What is one way to protect our little boat as it makes its way? Using boundaries – carefully and thoughtfully. 

I know this is a brief discussion about boundaries, but I wanted to bring them up.

The concept of boundaries is closely tied to the idea of personal power. Boundaries protect our energy. We can learn to say no with compassion to things that aren’t aligned with our path.

Also, setting boundaries is a helpful practice for reclaiming our authentic selves and navigating challenges with resilience and clarity.

Read more about protecting your energy here.

Energetic Sovereignty: Staying in Your Field

I’ve been embracing the sovereignty in my life lately. Perhaps it’s because I’ve moved to London, and I see images of the Queen everywhere! Her energy and presence inspire me. Even though she is no longer here, her image remains one of steadfast strength, will, and steadiness.

If you’re willing to try on sovereign energy for a moment, let’s explore it together.

This energy is amazing because, to me, it represents soft power, governed by presence and self-worth. In this state, you can connect with a high state of being because you know your value and uphold it naturally.

You recognize that you’re not responsible for everyone’s reactions. In fact, “Other people’s opinions of you are none of your business.”-  Byron Katie.

This concept is beneficial in coaching the women I work with. Relating to the world from your sovereign, authentic power is a great way to date!

Authentic power is magnetic—it draws others without force.

You can read more about trusting yourself here.

Also, explore how you see the world here.

Authentic Power: You Don’t Have to Lead Loudly

“Humbleness, forgiveness, clarity, and love are the dynamics of freedom. They are the foundations of authentic power.” – Gary Zukav.

Again, I picture the small boat aligning with the mothership. Once aligned, this boat radiates all the qualities mentioned in the quote above.

The boat is free to choose a path, and by aligning with its higher power, it has chosen freedom. Along with freedom comes humility, forgiveness, clarity, and love.

Seems like a great idea to me!

Additionally, it seems that we’ve grown up in a world that encourages women to lead louder, bigger, and harder. But perhaps the next revolution is leaning into a softer, truer, and more soulful approach to self-leadership and being.

What do you think?

One more thought from Gary Zukav: Food for Thought

“The decisions that you make and the actions that you take upon the Earth are the means by which you evolve. At each moment, you choose the intentions that will shape your experiences and those things upon which you will focus your attention. These choices affect your evolutionary process. This is so for each person. If you choose unconsciously, you evolve unconsciously. If you choose consciously, you evolve consciously.” ― Gary Zukav, The Seat of the Soul.

So, we can choose which way to do this.  There is so much to think about here…

What do you think? Are you willing to give this idea a chance? If so, let me know in the comments below :-)

Listen to the podcast, or watch the video here.