Over the past month I have been re-reading the works of Florence Shovell Shinn and one line stuck in my head, " Poise is Power ".

Poise can be described as, dignified, a self confident manner or bearing, composure, self possession. The words self assurance, polish, grace, refinement, calmness and tact can also be used to describe poise.

Power can be summed up in two ways. " The ability or capacity to do something or act in a certain way " or The ability or capacity to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events ".

The power in poise is the ability to direct or influence the behaviour of yourself. To behave with dignified grace, calmness and self assurance. This is where the power lies.

As Kipling wrote
" If you can keep your head when all about you
   are losing theirs and blaming it on you
   If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
   but make allowences for their doubting too "

The ability to control yourself as opposed to letting others or outside events control you, this is power. To take a step back and express in a calm detached manner, this is the power of poise.

Sometimes all it takes is five minutes of reflection to consider, instead of immediate action. On other occasions when others believe they need an answer now, your ability to say " come back in 24 hours and we will talk ". You would be amazed how 24 hours can put something into perspective. It is a rare skill, this thing called poise. It comes with practice.

Poise is power and those with poise don't allow themselves to be led as if they had a chain on them.

So today ask yourself this one question ;
Are you poised or led a merry dance by outside influences ? One is power, the other . . .


Colin Myles Author