You know the scene...

Child: "Why do I have to?"
Parent: "Because I said so!"

If your parents ever pulled that one on you, you probably vowed you'd never say it to your future kids.

But even the most repugnant acts of unkindness are rooted in life-positive impulses that have been distorted in some way, and there’s value in finding the good in such acts.

The good thing about "because I said so" is that it puts your personal power where it should be: in you. (And if you are pulling rank, it's more honest to say so than to pretend you have no choice.)

Of course, there are many better ways to respond to your child than to say, "because I said so." But you might try saying it silently to yourself every now and then — just to remind yourself that your Authentic Power is within, and it's bigger than all the explanations and justifications you could ever come up with.

See also:
• "Because" vs. "Be Cause"