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"Not feeling powerless" - Hesha Abrams
I find the concept of "power" fascinating because, like my guest Hesha, I think power dynamics are at the root of most, if not all, of the conflict in the world. As Hesha stated with her own value, it does not feel good to be powerless. When we feel like we aren't in control or are helpless; we lash out, we get depressed, we shut down--all things that significantly reduce the quality of our lives. That is why she dedicated so much of her life to understanding power dynamics and identifying strategies and tools to help them work in your favor. Her goal is for people to take their power back and get what they want out of life.
Hesha wrote a book "Holding The Calm" (https://www.holdingthecalm.com/) which is a guide to all of the things she has learned through her life to manage power and conflict. What maybe was most interesting and impressive about all of her work is how she gained this knowledge herself. She has spent most of her career as an attorney and mediator brokering huge settlements with companies like Amazon, Apple, Chevron, and Google--so that certainly went a long way to understanding power dynamics and conflict. But beyond that she also has spent significant time just studying life. She grew up in what she would call a dysfunctional, unhealthy family and spent her earlier years trying to figure out a better way to live. She also spent time working at hospice centers learning from people that were getting ready to die. What a way to learn about how to live, by studying people who are at the end of the game reflecting on their experiences.
You know I can't help but get philosophical as well, so we also spent some time talking about the inevitably of power dynamics. Is the reality that there will always be "carnivores" out there who take power and control the world, or is there a chance for humans to evolve and find a way to share power? And if so, what are the trade-offs if we do evolve in that way; would it result in a loss of drive or innovation? Would humanity definitely be better off? A big thanks to Hesha for being on and sharing her experiences.
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By Terry McMullen
5
2323 ratings
I find the concept of "power" fascinating because, like my guest Hesha, I think power dynamics are at the root of most, if not all, of the conflict in the world. As Hesha stated with her own value, it does not feel good to be powerless. When we feel like we aren't in control or are helpless; we lash out, we get depressed, we shut down--all things that significantly reduce the quality of our lives. That is why she dedicated so much of her life to understanding power dynamics and identifying strategies and tools to help them work in your favor. Her goal is for people to take their power back and get what they want out of life.
Hesha wrote a book "Holding The Calm" (https://www.holdingthecalm.com/) which is a guide to all of the things she has learned through her life to manage power and conflict. What maybe was most interesting and impressive about all of her work is how she gained this knowledge herself. She has spent most of her career as an attorney and mediator brokering huge settlements with companies like Amazon, Apple, Chevron, and Google--so that certainly went a long way to understanding power dynamics and conflict. But beyond that she also has spent significant time just studying life. She grew up in what she would call a dysfunctional, unhealthy family and spent her earlier years trying to figure out a better way to live. She also spent time working at hospice centers learning from people that were getting ready to die. What a way to learn about how to live, by studying people who are at the end of the game reflecting on their experiences.
You know I can't help but get philosophical as well, so we also spent some time talking about the inevitably of power dynamics. Is the reality that there will always be "carnivores" out there who take power and control the world, or is there a chance for humans to evolve and find a way to share power? And if so, what are the trade-offs if we do evolve in that way; would it result in a loss of drive or innovation? Would humanity definitely be better off? A big thanks to Hesha for being on and sharing her experiences.