A supervisor manages an obstinate subordinate. 

A college student feels bullied by a peer.

A professional works alongside a surly colleague. 

A parent struggles to get support from their child’s teacher.

Their roles and relationships may be different, but the challenge is the same—the feeling of helplessness. When you feel helpless it’s easy to become a victim of circumstances, losing hope and direction. If this sounds familiar then it’s time to take back your power.

When you give away your power, you let other’s control your time and emotions. Just like the teacher who focuses their energies on the misbehaving student, a supervisor can be consumed with one challenging subordinate.

Sometimes it feels preferable to make peace, avoid conflict, or try and “fix” the other person. But when you expend your valuable energy and time trying to “fix” or “battle” the problem, you’re lost in what you cannot control (others) and have given away your personal power. The cold truth is you can’t “fix” anyone, you can only change yourself. While change isn’t easy, starting with small steps makes the process easy and long lasting.

Here are six books that will teach you how to voice your opinions, stand up for yourself, realize your full potential, and yes, take back your power.

Stop Overreacting: Effective Strategies for Calming Your Emotions by Judith P. Siegel. Learning to identify and control emotional triggers and impulsive thoughts and feelings is critical for taking back your power. Siegel helps you understand how to do this, especially in moments of crisis and stress. Using her tools and strategies for neutralizing overwhelming emotions and, alternately, employing healthy responses will help you feel more in control. This book is designed to help you make changes for a better and more fulfilling life. 

Who’s Pulling Your Strings? How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Control of Your Life by Dr. Harriet B. Braiker. This New York Times bestselling author of The Disease to Please explains how depression, low self-esteem, chronic anger, and feelings of helplessness stem from toxic relationships. When you understand how a relationship is not serving you and what manipulation tactics may be in play, it’s the first step in freeing yourself from an unhealthy bondage. With the use of tools, assessments, and empowerment strategies, Dr. Braiker outlines the steps to regain your power and your voice. 

Master Your Emotions: A Practical Guide to Overcome Negativity and Better Manage Your Feelings by Thibaut Meuisse. Self-proclaimed introvert, Meuisse outlines a plan for living a happier life. The book is chocked full of coping strategies, emotional reprogramming tools, and a free accompanying workbook.

Take Your Life Back: How to Stop Letting the Past and Other People Control You by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Your past and current circumstances shouldn’t define you, nor determine the direction of your life. Take Your Life Back is the key to moving from reactive attitudes and behaviors to healthy, God-honoring responses
that will help you live the life you were meant to live.

Take Back Your Power: 10 New Rules for Women by Deborah Liu and Sheryl Sandberg. These two trailblazing leaders and best-selling authors speak to the heart of women with their book designed to help women take back their power. If you feel like the
cards are stacked against you, the glass ceiling is crushing, and the male-dominated industry is holding you back, this book helps you debunk the negative connotations of power and harness it for your own success. Learn how to be seen, heard, and taken more seriously as you navigate your way through the professional maze. More importantly, discover how changing your personal outlook will help you reach your goals and positively impact your life. 

Awaken Your Power Within: Let Go of Fear. Discover Your Infinite Potential. Become Your True Self by Gerry Hussey. The author shares a deeply riveting tale of self-discovery of a young boy who dared to ask deeper questions about the mind and soul. Bringing together insights from psychology, neuroscience, gut health, quantum physics, mindfulness and philosophy, the book shows you how to break free from limiting and self-destructive habits and reclaim your inner world so that you can live as your truest and most powerful self.   

Images Courtesy of New Harbinger Publications, Monoray Octopus Books, Tyndale House Publishers, and Zondervan Publishers.