What My Mom Taught Me About Feeling Powerless

Set of eyes looking down from the sky on a farmyard

There was a time when my mom and I played TV bingo together on Saturday afternoons. She loved it. I didn’t.

What stayed with me most wasn’t the game…it was how she talked about it. Even when she won, she would say she never wins. The caller didn’t say the right numbers. Other people were luckier. There was always a reason outside of her control.

At the time, I remember feeling irritated…even agitated, and I didn’t understand why.

Even though she’s passed away now…I often find myself reflecting on moments like that. This time I’m reflecting in a completely different way.

What I once saw as frustration… became one of my greatest lessons.

Looking Beneath the Reaction

I began to really look at that feeling of unrest inside me. I had a willingness to look inward, even when it felt uncomfortable. What was causing me to react this way?

When I did, one word came up: Powerless.

I realized what upset me wasn’t bingo. It was what I perceived in my mom…a pattern of feeling powerless to change things.

And then came the deeper realization: That my reaction had nothing to do with her. It had everything to do with me.

What She Showed Me About Myself

As I reflected, I began to see where I felt powerless.

In my personal life, I was dealing with things I couldn’t control.In my professional life, I was navigating big changes that left me feeling uncertain.

Different situations… same feeling. Powerless.

My mom didn’t create that feeling in me—she revealed it.

The Shift

That awareness changed everything.

Instead of judgment, I began to feel compassion for her and for myself.

Instead of frustration, I felt understanding.

And most importantly, I began to shift from:

• Powerless → Empowered

• “I can’t win” → “What can I learn here?”

A New Perspective

Looking back now, I no longer see those bingo conversations the same way.

I see them as gifts.

My mom, without ever knowing it, helped me see parts of myself I wasn’t aware of. She helped guide me toward greater self-awareness and inner peace.

And that’s the thing about our relationships…especially with family.

They don’t just shape our lives. They reflect us back to ourselves.

Final Thought

Every reaction we have is an invitation.

An invitation to look deeper. To understand ourselves more. To heal something within.

And when we do the work, the reward is always the same…a calm, peaceful feeling inside and a deeper understanding of ourselves.

Wherever you are on your journey, may you find what works for you…find your own truth…and you will always be guided to feel at peace inside.