"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any."-Alice Walker
If a person believes that they hold no influence over a situation, it is completely logical that they will not attempt to bring about any changes. They feel they lack the power to cause change, and so take no action. Perhaps they could have had a positive effect, but since they did not try, their belief caused them to basically give up their power. In contrast, a person who believes that they can make a difference will often be able to accomplish more than anyone would have ever expected.
