this is according to Chopra
""There are two kinds of self-power. The weaker of the two is not really
self-power at all; it's the power of agency, in which your strength is
derived from something out there in the world. It could be a famous name,
or a lot of money, or the fact that you've got a title that carries a lot
of power with it, whether it's President of the United States or
heavyweight-boxing champion of the world. You as an individual are the
agent for some external power source.
Agency power can certainly be formidable, but it's a kind of power that has
a beginning and a middle and an end. So, the President of the United
States is very powerful as long as he's in office, but after his term
expires, his agency power is diminished. Ten years later he may not be
powerful at all, if his entire strength was based on agency.
True self-power on the other hand, comes from within. Self-power has a
spiritual rather than a material foundation. Although agency power comes
and goes with the external source, self-power is permanent. It lasts as
long as you do. In fact, it lasts longer - because self-power is one with
spirit, and spirit lasts forever.
Secondly, self-power makes itself felt immediately. Its effect is
instantaneous. We've all had the experience of meeting someone who didn't
seem to be especially interesting or impressive, but then we find out that
they're powerful in some material way and suddenly we feel we have to take
them more seriously. This often happens with people who have agency power.
But when a person has true self-power, there's no way of being mistaken
about them. Their inner strength is obvious immediately, regardless if how
they're dressed or the kind of car they're driving or the type of
wristwatch they wear. Before they say anything, before they utter a single
word, before they do anything, this is the kind of person who will actually
draw your attention in a room; because their spirit is the source of their
strength. And it's the power that's associated with great leaders.
Self-power is like other great natural forces. It's like fire or
electricity. By itself, it's ethically neutral - it can be used for good
or bad. According to Vedic teachings, you don't necessarily have to be a
good person to have this kind of power. Bad people have it too, and they
can wreak havoc because they have such great ability to influence everyone
around them."""
