We allow someone to take our power, it comes on so gradual that we don't even realize that they have taken it until we have no power left. Then we wonder how we ever got to that point in our life. When it comes on gradually, we accept it little by little, the more we give them control, the more they take. There are only two kinds of people in this world, givers and takers. Takers will take and take until the giver has nothing left of themselves.
I allowed someone to control me with fear, emotional and mental abuse. I always tried to justify in my mind that it really wasn't that bad. I had NO opinion unless it was the one he wanted to hear. I now realize that once I allowed him to take my opinion, the rest was easy for him. I lived that life for 25 years and had given up everything I had passion for. It has taken a while, but once your remove the obstacles that hold you back, you will find your passions and what ever makes you happy have not been lost.