Personal Power
Personal Power
PERSONAL POWER QUIZ
© Joseph Belotte 2004
CAREGIVER INSTRUCTIONS
Print this page. Explain the instructions to your client or friend. And help him stick to it, answering all the questions for himself. Then, let him tell you what he thinks the answers should be.
CLIENT INSTRUCTIONS
Here is an interesting test that you can give yourself. By answering the questions you can see immediately how you can lose or gain control over your life. And you get to be the judge. To make it easy, print this page and answer the questions for yourself by checking the boxes. Then compare what your answers are to what you think they should be.
Check the boxes first. Then go back and look over your answers.
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Have you previously identified yourself with the drug environment?
Yes [ ] Maybe [ ] No [ ]
Can you identify yourself with the non-drug environment?
Yes [ ] Maybe [ ] No [ ]
Drugs and alcohol are (check all that apply)
A way to solve your problems [ ]
A great way to live [ ]
A source of trouble [ ]
A way to avoid reality [ ]
Why do you sometimes get reactive? (check all that apply)
People threaten me [ ]
I get myself into a corner [ ]
I can’t get or have my way [ ]
I didn’t handle something I should have before [ ]
I let my life get out of my control [ ]
I play fair and others don’t [ ]
What affects you most, your actions or other people’s actions?
Check one: Yours [ ] Others [ ]
How do you lose control over your life? (check all that apply)
Refusing to do things that are necessary to have a good life [ ]
Neglecting to do things that are necessary to have a good life [ ]
Doing things that invite others to take control [ ]
Listening to other people [ ]
Frequently blaming other people [ ]
Believing you have already lost control [ ]
How do you give up control over your life? (check all that apply)
Letting your life go out of your control [ ]
Pretending your life is under control [ ]
Letting your life remain out of your control [ ]
Always having good excuses [ ]
Not reacting to people [ ]
Not doing what is necessary to keep control [ ]
When people do things against you… (check all that apply)
They do it to hurt you [ ]
They do it because they are mean people [ ]
They do it to protect themselves [ ]
They do it to help you[ ]
They do it because they don’t know any better [ ]
They do it because they think it is right [ ]
In the past, I set myself up for problems when I … (check all that apply)
Didn’t anticipate something. [ ]
Believed something that wasn’t true. [ ]
Didn’t believe something that was true. [ ]
Neglected something. [ ]
Expected something. [ ]
Assumed something. [ ]
How do you give other people control of your life? (check all that apply)
Buck the system. [ ]
Do things they cannot tolerate. [ ]
Neglect doing things that need to be done. [ ]
Avoid responsibility. [ ]
How else do you give other people control over your life?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Why do you “have to” do some things? (check all that apply)
Because you can’t get out of it. [ ]
Because someone else demands it. [ ]
Because people are selfish or mean. [ ]
Because people have control issues. [ ]
Because of something you want. [ ]
How do you trip yourself up the most? (check all that apply)
Acting without thinking. [ ]
Doing things that create problems. [ ]
Trying to avoid things. [ ]
Neglecting things that are actually important. [ ]
Fighting battles that aren’t actually necessary. [ ]
Holding on to resentments. [ ]
Following the wrong people. [ ]
Add your own answer: How do you trip yourself up the most?
________________________________________________________
LOSING CONTROL:
If you don’t control your life in a civilized way other people will try to control if for you. Looking at your own life, list some of the ways you gave up control of your life and set yourself up for trouble.
Finish the following sentences:
I neglected to ___________________________________________________.
I allowed _______________________________________________________.
I didn’t consider _________________________________________________.
I assumed that __________________________________________________.
I refused to accept _______________________________________________.
I continued to ___________________________________________________.
I thought I needed _______________________________________________.
I demanded ____________________________________________________.
I refused to _____________________________________________________.
SELF DEFENSE:
Who have you had to defend yourself from?
______________________________________________________________
How could you avoid that happening in the future?
______________________________________________________________
What has someone done to you?
______________________________________________________________
How could you avoid that happening in the future?
______________________________________________________________
What is someone likely to do to you?
______________________________________________________________
How can you deal with that without getting angry?
______________________________________________________________
What do you have to be careful about?
______________________________________________________________
How can you prepare yourself in case that happens?
______________________________________________________________
BRAINSTORMING CHOICES:
When life doesn’t go your way there are many choices you can make. The more choices you are aware of, the better you will handle the situation. Brainstorm the following choices by answering all of the questions below.
WHEN LIFE DOESN’T GO YOUR WAY…
What do you usually feel like doing?
______________________________________________________________
What else might you do?
______________________________________________________________
What might someone else do?
______________________________________________________________
What have you done in the past? (Two answers)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What might make things worse? (Two answers)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
What might make things better?
______________________________________________________________
If you had more time to handle things what might you do?
______________________________________________________________
If you were the person you really want to be what might you do?
______________________________________________________________
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
What else can I do to avoid trouble? (check all that apply)
Always have alternatives to what I am planning [ ]
Pay attention to ALL my options [ ]
Reduce my expectations [ ]
Find out the truth before reacting [ ]
Refrain from getting into a position of weakness [ ]
Expect people to act stupidly and not take it personally [ ]
Make my own decisions and not blame anyone else for them [ ]
Get my life under control [ ]
SUMMARY
How many different ways do you think there are for handling life besides fighting or running or using drugs or alcohol?
Write in a number ____________.
The purpose here is to get some insight. I think you know what the answers should be, and what your own answers really are. This is a chance to compare the two. If you haven’t done so, answer the questions and then grade the quiz for yourself. You know yourself best and you are you own most valuable critic.