We Are More Powerful Than We Think. So What’s Holding Us Back?
Given this moment, I’ve found myself re-reading You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen by Eric Liu. It’s part reminder, part provocation: power isn’t reserved for elites, it’s something we all possess.
In my last post, I wrote about how change doesn’t come from choosing the “right” approach, whether it’s protest, policy, or dialogue, but from aligning them strategically. Real progress happens when different methods work together, not in silos.
But even with that kind of alignment, there’s a deeper challenge we don’t talk about enough: we don’t always believe we have the power to make change in the first place.
Liu reminds us that power is everywhere — it’s relational, learnable, and already in our hands. But knowing that and acting on it are two very different things.
This post is in conversation with that core message. Because even with awareness, we often hesitate to name our power, to claim it, or to use it with intention.
So what keeps us stuck? And how do we move from recognizing our power to actually using it?
Power Isn’t Just Individual. It’s Collective. We tend to frame power as personal. But meaningful change happens when people organize their power together. It’s not about lone disruptors; it’s about networks, coalitions, and aligned effort. “Power compounds,” Liu writes, so the question is: who are we compounding it with?
Power Needs a Plan. Awareness without direction stalls. Understanding systems is a start, but power without intention rarely shifts them. Strategy, infrastructure, and clarity of purpose turn potential into impact. If power is a muscle, organizing is the training plan.
Misunderstanding Power Keeps Us Disempowered. Power isn’t zero-sum. It’s not top-down by default. But when we believe those myths, we wait on permission, on resources, on perfect timing. And that delay serves the status quo. The more we demystify power, the more accessible it becomes.
We Hold Ourselves (and Each Other) Back. Within our own spaces, we often replicate the same dynamics we’re trying to dismantle: gatekeeping, fear of failure, purity tests. We need cultures that don’t just build power, but make it usable. Trust, flexibility, and shared leadership are as strategic as any campaign.
Power Is a Choice. Recognizing your power is step one. Choosing to use it intentionally, collectively, and consistently is where transformation begins. In a moment like this, none of us can afford to opt out. The question isn’t “Do I have power?” It’s “What will I do with it and with whom?”
Power isn't just something to recognize, it's something to practice. And practice means risk, coordination, and often discomfort. But it’s also how we move from frustration to traction, from potential to actual change.
We don’t need to wait for permission or perfect conditions. We need to use what we have, where we are, and with who’s already in the room. That’s how power grows. That’s how systems shift.
So yes, we are more powerful than we think!
