Why do you equate power with fear?

I never equated power with fear, but yes the power is the conquering of it. As humans we all have fears. Conquering fear lets take as an example .... Have you as a Dominant male ever asked your submissive what she went through to be yours....I have. First they must deal with the understanding of this need ....it takes great strength to go against what society deems as normal in their choice... Then they have to decide how to voice this choice ....as they do they become a target for all kinds of abuse verbal ,and mental...would you have the strength of your own convictions to wade through that ....many submissive can’t so they give up.... but the strong ones do...their conviction need is that strong.... Some give themselves to another only to abused , used lied too...of those many leave the lifestyle as they can’t deal with it and just give up... could you endure this ask yourself....Some find a Dominant give there all it becomes r/l only to find abuse and lies....but still they seek another why...what draws them ....they have something a strength to find that happiness ... Finally they find the One their Dom but this baggage is still there ....they need time to see it will work so parts are held back...but with time, and the building
of this trust, they can now share everything they wished to share from the beginning. I know she fears at the start if I went through the same I would be apprehensive too. We as Dominants rarely think of what our submissive went through to become ours

You say your role is to keep her safe.... How do you keep her safe with no power?

By understanding what it took to bring her to Me...Understanding she has fears, communication and allowing her to share those fears...would you not if you went through all above to find the One you have. Women fear gaining weight, getting old , abandonment , are they enough , a whole gambit of fears we will never understand.... As an example my sub is turning fifty, she used to looks at her picture then to the mirror questioning herself constantly, no matter how much I reassured her , she did it finding fault with herself... nothing worked then one day I asked her this.... As a firefighter I face death daily... If I was to become disfigured by a fire would she love me less... she went to our bedroom , I followed her found her crying on the bed she looked up and said how could you think such a thing,,, I looked deeply into her eyes and said then why do you question me by doubting your own beauty... is that power no ... it is understanding we as Dominant and sub and are but parts of One.

How do you help her surpass her limits with no power?... for why would she do so save to please you?

The submissive knows her needs long before she ever meets her master, her need as a submissive is to give of herself, you as a Master must deal with this fact it is what drew her into the lifestyle not you. Yes with trust and time she shares those needs more, as with any relationship be it in the lifestyle, or vanilla.... you wouldn’t walk up to a complete stranger on the street and start talking about your wants needs to them as a new sub will not share her own secret wants desires with just any Dom... But we all have that someone whom we share our life with be it a best friend some one we have known for some time and can trust with that knowledge be it vanilla or lifestyle .With that building of trust in the Dom the submissive finds she can share that with you...her desires. Do you honestly think when a submissive is asked for the first time her limits by a new Dom...she shares all ...this is not a lie just a way to protect herself....That desire can’t be revealed yet to anyone,,, even her...but with time she grows understanding her needs, her trust builds and soon she has to share that need. My joy doesn’t come from binding a women but seeing the joy in her eyes as she lays there bound...not from striking her flesh with whip or flogger but the look in her eyes after as I caress her , and she thanks Me.

And you say you are in control of your own emotions. How do you do that without power?

If self control over my own emotions is power I don’t understand the question. I learned in martial arts that with the knowledge comes control. If confronted I walk away not out of fear of them...but because I know I can hurt them. I choice not to The same is true of the submissive a Dominant can crush the spirit of a submissive make her do anything if she doesn’t know her own strength...I have seen it ...heard of it.....I have found it to be wrong. Maybe I do wield power ,but it is only over Me not her.