The Power of Influence: Empowering Others vs. Exercising Control

Human beings have a natural desire to influence others. This inclination is deeply rooted within us, whether it stems from a basic desire for self-expression or a more profound altruistic need to add positive value to the lives of others.

This innate desire to make an impact could however also manifest itself in a negative way. Some people seek to influence others for the purpose of ultimately having control over them. 

This innate desire to make an impact, however, can also manifest in negative ways. Some people seek to influence others to ultimately gain control over them.

It is essentially the difference between influence and power. 

It is the difference between the short-term and long-term approaches in life.

To influence others is to empower them. We teach them not just what to do but how to achieve things on their own. We convey not just information and knowledge needed in life but also how to discover these truths independently.

To be successful at influencing others, we need patience and humility. It centers on a fundamental choice in life: who is at the center of the equation? Is it ourselves or others? Are we self-centered or selfless?

The expression used in the verse for igniting the flames of the candelabra in the temple is "ascending," implying that when we kindle the flame, we must do so until the light sustains itself.

The greatest people in history are not those who resorted to power but those who sought to influence others without controlling them. 

Power is a finite game—the more one shares, the less one has. 

Influence, on the other hand, is infinite—the more we share, the more influential we become. The more light we share, the brighter the world becomes.