BULLIES HAVE NO POWER

(ESSAY BASED ON HER BEST-SELLING BOOK CHAMPIONSHIP SPIRIT)

Paula T. Webb, PhD

RECIPIENT OF THE BRONZE MEDAL
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ESSAY CONTEST

When I was in 4th to 6th grades, I had a teacher Miss Davis who had her favorite students as most teachers do I am sure, and those two favorites were Karen and Becky. At the time, I was what they used to call a “late bloomer,” was very shy, and wore glasses. About the second week into my 4th grade year, for some reason Karen and Becky began to bully me. They began pushing my books on the floor, pushing me down at recess, taking my lunch, and shoving me or tripping me in the hallways at every chance. When I went to Miss Davis to complain she told me to grow up and did nothing.

I lived in fear of what might happen those three years, and when we went to separate schools for 7th grade, I was very relieved. I always remembered that bullying and made a vow to never let that happen to anyone, or any living creature from the first day of 7th grade forward. There were other bullying instances over the years that happened, and through those other experiences, I began to see a pattern with bullies – I saw that they were the ones who were fearful, they were the ones who were insecure! And once I saw that, they no longer had any power over me.

Since those years of being bullied all of my compassion for others less fortunate, those who may not feel or know they have a voice grew from a personal sense of accomplishment to assisting others who may have had similar bullying experiences. I began to champion the rights of dogs and cats I heard about locally, that were stuck in bullying or abusive situations; and found them new loving homes. And I began to write about my success at letting go emotionally of bullying experiences in my book “Championship Spirit” so that other adults may know that “bullies have no power.”

I have found that once you understand that bullies are sad and scared themselves they are no longer someone to be afraid of; you can then begin to forgive, and possibly have compassion for them at having such challenges in their life. Why? Because then you are the strong one and the “Bullies Have No Power!”

This is something I now work with adults about in my career as co-founder of Trading Psychology where I provide coaching to all levels of traders…meaning the after-effects of being bullied when younger. Being bullied when you are young can have a negative impact on your success as an adult especially as traders, and so through this specific book and coaching, I assist traders in understanding that bullies have no power – no power over them anymore which allows these adults to move forward and achieve what they knew they could, and now know they can.

This can also be applied to younger people as well that once they are taught, and believe, that bullies have no power, they can stop being fearful, and regain their personal power in a more positive manner and become the success God has ordained them to be as one of his beloved children.