What’s the Difference Between Being Smart and Reaching Your Full Potential?

There’s a version of me that I used to chase — someone more calm, more confident, more “put together.” I thought she was waiting for me at the end of some goal or milestone. If I just worked hard enough, achieved enough, “fixed myself” enough, I’d become her.

But after years of chasing, I realized something important: she wasn’t ahead of me — she was already inside me.

All this time, I had been looking for power, control, and peace outside of myself, never realizing that everything I needed was already there.

And if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’ve felt it too.

The feeling that “something’s missing” or that you have to “fix yourself” to feel whole. But what if, instead of chasing something outside, you focused on unlocking the inner power that’s been with you all along?

This is what I want to talk about today — how to access that power, how to cultivate it, and how to let it guide you.

What Does It Mean to “Unlock Your Inner Power”?

Most people think “inner power” means strength, willpower, or the ability to “push through.” But that’s only part of it. True power isn’t force — it’s flow.

It’s not about controlling everything around you. It’s about creating a solid inner foundation so that no matter what life throws your way, you stay grounded.

Power doesn’t look like perfection. It looks like self-trust.
It looks like presence.
It looks like being at peace with your choices.

Power is the ability to stay connected to yourself — no matter the chaos around you.

The good news? You don’t have to “build” this power from scratch. It’s already within you. You just have to access it.

How Do We Lose Touch With Our Inner Power?

If you’ve ever felt small, overwhelmed, or like life is happening to you instead of through you, it’s usually because of one thing: disconnection.

We disconnect from our power when:

• We doubt our ability to handle life’s challenges.

• We look for validation or approval from others.

• We get caught in “fix it” mode, trying to control outcomes instead of trusting the process.

Think of it like a toolbox.

You have a toolbox filled with everything you need: strength, patience, intuition, resourcefulness, and resilience. But sometimes, we forget it’s there. We start looking for tools outside of ourselves — in other people, in self-help books, in validation from others.

But the most powerful tools are already in your hands.

The question is: Are you willing to open the box?

7 Practical Tools to Unlock Your Inner Power

If you’re ready to stop chasing power outside yourself and start cultivating it within, here’s where to begin:

1. Use Breathwork to Access Calm & Clarity

When you’re in a state of panic, overwhelm, or doubt, your breath is your reset button.

We often think power is about “doing more,” but sometimes it’s about doing less. Breathwork helps you pause and create space between your thoughts and your actions.

Try this: Take 3 deep breaths right now. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 4, hold for 4, and exhale through your mouth for 6. Repeat this 3 times.

This isn’t just a breathing exercise — it’s a reminder that you have control over how you experience the moment.

2. Stop Fighting Tension — Learn to Release It

We hold so much tension in our bodies. Shoulders tight. Jaw clenched. Muscles braced for impact.

We think this is strength. But it’s actually resistance. True strength isn’t about “bracing for impact.” It’s about learning to release.

Just like a clenched fist can’t hold water, a tense body can’t receive love, support, or opportunity.

Try this: Check in with your body right now. Where are you holding tension? Your jaw? Your shoulders? Your chest? Release it. Breathe into that space.

3. Reprogram Limiting Beliefs

Your inner power is shaped by your beliefs. If you believe, “I’m not good enough,” it will show up in your actions. If you believe, “I can figure this out,” it will also show up in your actions.

Many of our beliefs are “inherited” from family, culture, or past experiences. But here’s the thing: You don’t have to keep every belief you were handed.

Try this: Write down one belief that’s holding you back (e.g., “I’m not ready” or “I don’t have enough experience”). Then, write down a more supportive belief (e.g., “I’m learning every day” or “I have everything I need to take the first step”). Practice repeating it every day.

4. Build a Mental Toolbox

Your toolbox includes everything you need to handle life’s challenges. But sometimes, you forget what’s inside.

Here’s a reminder of the tools you already have:

• Patience — You’ve already waited for things before.

• Resilience — You’ve survived difficult moments and are still here.

• Resourcefulness — You’ve found creative solutions before.

• Courage — You’ve stepped into unknowns before and figured it out.

Try this: Write down 3 tools you’ve used to overcome challenges in the past. Carry this list with you and add to it every time you use one of your tools.

5. Master Perseverance (Show Up Even When It’s Hard)

Power doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from showing up, even when it’s hard.

Ask any athlete, artist, or entrepreneur — success isn’t built on talent alone. It’s built on consistency. The willingness to keep going when it feels pointless.

Try this: Pick one small action this week that you’ll do every day — even if it’s just for 5 minutes. It could be journaling, stretching, or cleaning one small space. Consistency builds momentum.

6. Trust the Process (Stop Trying to Control Everything)

If you plant a seed, you don’t force it to grow. You water it. You give it sunlight. And you trust that it will grow.

The same is true for your goals, dreams, and self-improvement. Plant the seeds. Do the work. And let go.

Try this: Instead of focusing on what you can’t control (the outcome), focus on what you can control (the process). Take one action toward your goal today and trust that it’s enough.

7. Stay Authentic (Don’t Perform For Others)

If you want to feel powerful, you have to stop chasing validation. The truth is, you don’t need to “perform” to be loved, accepted, or worthy.

Try this: When you make a decision, ask yourself, “Am I doing this for me, or am I doing it to impress others?” If it’s for others, pause and reconsider.

Reflection Questions

If you’re ready to start unlocking your inner power, ask yourself:

1️⃣ What’s one belief I’m ready to challenge?
2️⃣ Where am I holding tension in my body right now?
3️⃣ What’s one small, consistent action I can take this week?
4️⃣ Which tool in my “toolbox” do I forget I have?

Write down your answers. Reflect on them. And most importantly, take action.

Thoughts….

Here’s what I know for sure: You are more powerful than you realize.

Your power isn’t something you chase. It’s something you cultivate. It’s in your breath, your presence, your patience, and your ability to trust yourself.

If you want to be powerful, stop chasing perfection. Stop chasing validation.

Start trusting yourself.

Your inner power is already here.

The only question is: Are you ready to access it?

With love and strength,

Esther

For more info about Esther 

For Contact [email protected]

Esther Levy