There is much good that comes from our innate need for empowerment. It certainly is a survival mechanism. When power is more oriented towards empowerment it becomes an empowering force, an apparatus for self-growth, and a tool for self-evolution. There is a lot of mind-body energy tied into the Empowerment Need, and this energy can be used to achieve goals. I immensely value the concept of locus-of-control. In the Theory of Balanceology, I entertain the idea that locus-of-control is a powerful empowerment concept. John Rotter theorized and developed the concept of locus-of-control (1954). Locus-of-control is: 1.) a cognitive concept, and 2.) a perception concept. It entails our thoughts and perceptions of who and/or what has control in our life. Do we have control over what happens in our life (self-empowerment)? Or, does someone or something else outside of us have control over what happens in our life (external power)? An internal locus-of-control is where we perceive that control resides within us for events that happen in our life (inner-directed). The events can be good or bad. We are empowered to take necessary action to control our life. An external locus-of-control is where we perceive that something external to us is controlling life events (outer-directed). External forces like chance, luck, God, “Jesus take the wheel,” other people, fate, or government has the power over one’s life. Our actions mean little.
