Power | Science Running Amuck

Power is a discussion that we can approach in two ways. One is the scientific and formula-based way, where you will start to suspect that I am a nerd, or the spiritual way, where you will be certain that I am a guru from India. Now, the question is, which one do I want you to suspect that I am. Let me keep you guessing. Muahhhahahahh.

I did not keep you guessing for too long. Now, I am an engineer by profession and am inclined to look at Power scientifically. How do we define power?

Power = Work/Time

In other words, power is the amount of energy spent in doing work in a specified time. That is simple, right. Now, if you are the inquisitive kind, you would say, hold on, what does that even mean. So, I can’t just give you a formula and run away from it. I’ve got to explain. ☹

Okay, let’s take an example. I told you I am an engineer. You drive a Mercedes car while I drive a Toyota Camry. We both approach a hilly road, and since we are in a hurry, we both accelerate as our life depended on it. But all that I can see from the Camry is the Mercedes speeding away from me and growing ever so tiny on my windshield. If you didn’t get what that meant, it just meant that the Mercedes was too fast for the Camry. Now, you being my friend, you reach the top and wait for me. I reach fifteen minutes later, and as we hug and kiss each other, we exchange data (which neither of us cares about. It’s just for this example).

So, we realize that the Camry took thirty minutes to reach the top from the start point while the Mercedes took just fifteen minutes. When we both ask each other why did that happen, what do you think was the answer? The answer was that the Mercedes had more power than the Toyota. And how did we reach that conclusion? Because the Mercedes did the “work” of driving up the hill in 15 minutes (time) while the Toytota did the same “work” in 30 minutes (time). See, that’s easy. That’s how we judge the power of a vehicle, right? Yeah.

That’s it. We are done for today. But hey, who told you that science was so straightforward. Apparently, there is another definition for power, and it goes something like this:

Power = Force x Velocity

So, power is nothing but the product of force and velocity. Let’s take another example. You are a feather-weight boxer, while I am a heavy-weight boxer. We both agree on a friendly bout, just for fun. Since you are lighter, you can fly around the arena while landing numerous punches on me. I find it difficult to get you. But guess what, you slack a bit, and I land a punch on you. And you are knocked out cold. Why is that?

That’s because I am stronger, and the force of my punch coupled with the pace with which it lands on you is good enough to take you out. While your punch’s force, though fast, is not enough to take me down. That’s the second example of power. Phew!

But wait. Science is not done yet. There is another definition of power.

Power = Voltage x Electricity

Power is simply the product of voltage and electricity. Do you want an example? Okay, ask your father to buy two bulbs with higher and lower voltage. Please put them in the socket and switch them on. Now remove their respective glass casing. Take turns and touch each (please don’t do it. I am just kidding). Check which one makes your hair stand the most, and that’s the one with the higher power. Hehehhe.

Okay, let’s limit our discussion to these three definitions. In each, we understand that power is used to measure either the strength or energy consumed (or spent) within a particular time. When looking at it scientifically, power assumes a finite value. That means the Merc can only go so much faster but not anymore, or I could punch only that much harder but no more.

However, when seen from a spiritual perspective, power takes a whole new form.

Power | The Spiritual Way

Now, I am a spiritual guru. So, the first thing you do is…… bow. Muahahaha. You expected something else. Okay, alright, let’s get serious.

Power is something that is assumed within us. Spirituality does not come with a definition for power because spirituality believes that we are limitless beings. If we are limitless, then our power is limitless too. This means science probably can come up with definitions, but it may have a tough time measuring them when applied to humans.

Let’s go back to our example of the boxers. Instead of a lightweight boxer, let’s have both the boxers matched in weight. When they fight in the ring, who usually wins? May not always be the one who is physically stronger rather the mentally stronger one. A Muhammad Ali beating visibly stronger opponents is not something we haven’t seen. Similarly, Mike Tyson and other boxers you could think of would have performed in the same manner. This is something science cannot explain. But if

**Power = Force x velocity **

The one with more strength and speed should win. Yet, someone a bit slower and weaker (relatively) wins. How is that? I am sure you have witnessed bouts where a seemingly weaker opponent takes down the giant. And I am not limiting to boxing alone. Think of all the sports that you have witnessed, and you will know what I say is true.

Do you know why that is? When it comes to human beings, the definition of power has more variables to the equation. One of them is resilience.

Power = Force x velocity x resilience

Now, you can trust science to develop a definition for resilience, but science will never be able to quantify it. It all boils down to the belief you and I have about ourselves. If you believe you can do it, you will get up no matter how many times you fall. But if you don’t, you will be beaten by a weaker opponent. It just cannot be quantified.

But what if we have equally resilient players on the field. Then what happens? It boils down to another variable called attitude.

Power = Force x velocity x resilience x attitude

I am sure you must have heard of the “never-say-die” attitude. Or you know of someone who never gives up. Coming back to our bout, you can have two players who are well-matched and also equally resilient, but the winner is the one who has the right attitude. The one who had already gone the extra mile to train (before the bout) and the one who is ready to go the extra mile to win (during the bout).

Ask science to measure it, and you may still get some interesting formulae. But ask for quantification - it just is not possible. What do all these parameters tell us?

Your Power | You Decide the Limits

All that we have seen so far just goes to show just one thing. How much we believe we can go on decides how far we go. You believe you have the power to do only a small amount, then that is what your life will be—one with a small amount of something. But if you believe you can push through the non-existent, invisible limits, you will grow to be a Goliath. The question is, what do you believe?

The funny part is the topic of power while discussing humans takes a different dimension. The term powerless is used more often than we would like to hear. While all that we discussed so far tells us that we can break or redraw the boundaries of power, most of us are busy dealing with the other end. We are constantly fighting to reduce and redraw the boundaries of our known power to such small limits that we end up calling ourselves power-less. We plan our lives in being a victim and hope to live on someone’s mercy. When that mercy does not come, we call the world cruel.

Most of us are in powerful positions with a powerless mentality. This is what defines how far we go in life. While all others things stay matched, your resilience and attitude will define your power. And I haven’t even touched other aspects like perseverance, dedication, determination, and more that go into making us.

You would appreciate that mere formula cannot measure our power, let alone us. But the absence of formula should not drive you to think that you don’t have power. Even a newborn has power way beyond his/her vocal chord to let know that he/she needs food. It is for the others to make arrangements. Even if that courage alone remains through our lives, we would definitely understand our power if not go beyond the assumed limits.

Power | The Limitless Way

Ages ago, a wise man was addressing us at our conference. He was asking us to describe tiredness. Somebody got up and said - that feeling when we know we can’t do anything anymore. So, our host asked the man to feel dead tired and feel that he couldn't get up at all. Then he asked him to visualize an event. He said that it was the man’s five-year-old daughter who walked up unobserved to the kitchen. She was few feet away from toppling a vessel full of boiling water on herself. What would the reaction be?

Needless to say, everyone knew (while the man felt. We could see it in his expression) that he would rush to stop the girl. But our host asked, how could he? He was dead tired. He couldn't do it. So, where did the power come from? And that’s when realization dawned on all of us that our power supersedes everything that we call obstacles, only if we have the right motivation. The daughter was the motivation here, and we all realized it. Then the host turned to us and asked, what is your motivation?

I ask you the same question. What is your motivation? Find it. Please write it down and read it every day. When you move forward with that motivation, you know you are expanding the boundaries of your power. You are on an ever-increasing path to expand your being and becoming limitless.

So, what’s it gonna be? You are going to be powerful or going to break the boundaries of power and expand more. I am going to give you just these two options and nothing else. You decide.

Power | The Engineering Guru Style

So, now you heard from your guru, who is also an engineer. See how science can help you understand power and then go beyond and understand what science can’t.

I am sure you would see the merits of using science to some extent to base your spiritual journey on something. Once you’ve got the base, all that you have to do is to grow. Grow limitless.

There is power within you beyond your wildest imagination. It is up to you how you intend to use it. If I were you, I would use it to further myself and grow stronger and stronger! 😊

About the Contest

Here is a contest hosted on the Proof of Brain community site for those inspired to write on a word selected for the week.

If this interests you, you can head to this post and participate from there. Have fun!

 

Image Courtesy: Mohamed Hassan at Pixabay | GraphicMama-Team @ Pixabay