Power over self-esteem

What is it about power that it begs to be abused?

Parents use their power over their children countless times to often impose on-sided rules (because I said so!); siblings use it (whenever they get incriminating information on the other) against each other to get the upper hand and milk the opportunity to the last drop. Civil servants use it against the lowly citizen in my country (not to say anything of the politicians and their ever-growing network of close (closet?) family and friends, who use it to override the system and bask in undue privileges).

Religious leaders are no different, neither are school teachers or even boy scouts – if anyone has power over another and they know it, it is a difficult ask that they not abuse it when in a bind.

In my opinion this matter can be explained by universal low self-esteem and constant niggling doubt within oneself of ones inferiority. But how does this self-esteem issue manifest itself in an unsuspecting soul?

(And it does manifest itself into people's personality and is not something that one is born with or into, because how many young children have you met that admit they can't do something. Give a child an option and they will attempt it... they know no fear or possess no low self-esteem. The 'can-do' spirit epitomises itself in a child's innocence.)

Our self-esteem is categorically lowered (or attempted to) by people who surround us – people who fear their inadequacies may be exposed unless they can beat upon (literally or philosophically) and beat down another's self-esteem. An equation that makes me feel stronger by making you feel weaker. Those who can press down hard enough win the match.

This is not a human trait alone, it is what nature intends. Alpha males in lion prides to wolf packs dominate the group and enjoy the advantages of a submissive following. Only problem is that eventually someone else in the group wants to be the top banana and as a result the alpha male's position is constantly under threat from younger males in the group. The solution is to beat down on any potential threats so they that become less of it. But the only problem with that is that beating down only works as long as the alpha male remains the strongest or the most cunning – and nature sees to it that that does not always remain so.

As in nature, once the younger lion take over the pride by rising over the challenge the old lion posed. The victor then removes all potential threats by either killing them or sending them away.

Humans, of course, don't usually kill or banish threats (but it is known to happen, just not in general polite circles that most of us live in) but they inadvertently press their charges self-esteem down – in the noble efforts to keep their charges safe from the world.

But inside each child is a potential leader, and a quality that could be quashed by low self-esteem. It's just that power over the 'smaller' people has a blinding effect.

It is the rare man (or woman) that can rise above it – most just (reluctantly?) relinquish the power when they are out-gunned or out-witted. A father learns to let go; a mother learns that there is no more to nurture; a teacher learns that there is nothing else to teach; and a leader learns that the game is finally up.

A Talatism truth is that simply staying ahead through domination alone is like a wet-dream – a fantasy that can only end in a rude awakening and a potentially sticky mess.