What happens after you step into your power?

In Episode 106 of Vibrations and Manifestations, we explore one of the most important — and rarely discussed — stages of growth: ethical power.

Once you move from presence to agency… your influence expands.Your words carry further.Your tone shapes outcomes.Your choices create ripple effects.

So the question becomes:

How do you wield power without being corrupted by it?

In this deep dive, we explore:

• The ancient story of Cincinnatus — the leader who voluntarily laid down absolute power

• The three distortions of power: Performance, Reactive, and Ethical

• The neuroscience behind why power reduces empathy

• The “Cookie Monster” study and the empathy gap

• The Integrity Filter (3 questions to regulate before reacting)

• The Lantern Test for ethical decision-making

• A guided visualization to embody influence without force

Key Insight:

Power is a magnifier. It doesn’t change you — it reveals you.

If you’ve been following Season 2, this is the next rung of the ladder:

Presence stabilizes. Agency directs. Ethical power protects.

Next Episode (107): Collective Power — How communities steward influence together without fragmentation.

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who is stepping into leadership in their life.

✨ Soundbite Takeaway: “Power reveals who you are. Integrity determines who you become.”

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📖 Read the blog at blog.shelleycarney.com or find us on Substack https://substack.com/@shelleycarney

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🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts

🎧 Check out the explainer videos, meditation-only tracks and sleep guides on our YouTube channel for deeper practice

⏱️ Chapters00:00 The Pottery Pancake & Beginner’s Mind

02:47 Presence → Agency → Integrity

04:46 Power Is a Magnifier

05:40 The Story of Cincinnatus

10:19 The Weight of Influence (Modern Example)

14:08 The Three Distortions of Power

17:15 The Cookie Monster Study & The Empathy Gap

20:59 The Integrity Filter & Lantern Test

25:01 Manifestation Debug Mode

27:38 Guided Visualization: The Lantern Holder

30:36 Recap & Your Practice This Week