How To Empower Yourself And Others

If you want to accomplish your goals, you must learn to be self-motivated.  Finding your inner strength and learning to overcome those moments when you feel powerless is a skill that will serve you well throughout your entire life.  There are many reasons why we may feel powerless; however, the truth is that we are the only ones with the power to control the course of our lives.  Even when we face circumstances that are out of our control, we have the power to choose how we will react to those circumstances.  That simple fact is the difference in defeat and victory.

Our self-empowerment is contagious.  We can empower others through our positive outlook and our motivation to reach our goals.  When working together as a team, we can accomplish much more than working alone.  Learning how to empower others as well as yourself will help you grow and survive regardless of the circumstances or conditions you face.  Here are some steps that you can take to empower yourself and empower those around you.

1. Set goals – Without defined goals, you have no clear direction.  This may result in feeling powerless as you continue to work with no end in sight.  Having a defined goal provides motivation to keep working and encourages you to be focused as you complete each step on the path to reaching the goal.  When working with others, set clearly defined goals so that everyone feels as if they are working together for the common good of the group.

2. Be positive – Having a positive outlook encourages you to find resolutions to problems that you may face.  Say, “I can” or “I will” rather than “I can’t” in order to feel empowered in any situation.  For example, “I will find a new job” rather than “I can’t find another job so I will just stay here even though I am miserable.”  As long as you focus on the negative, you will never take the first step to change your situation.  The same applies when directing others.  Use positive reaffirmations such as “You can learn a foreign language” or “You will find a new job.”

3. Education is power – In order to reach your full potential, you need the skills, knowledge and experience that come from education and training.  As you learn and gain experience, you will gain confidence in your abilities and feel more empowered to accomplish your goals.  Teaching others the skills necessary to accomplish their goals is a way to empower others to excel.

4. Love yourself unconditionally – Even though you may have things you want to improve, you need to like the person you are right now.  You are unique and special with a strong sense of self that comes from character traits and qualities that you developed as you have grown and learned from experience.  The more you allow yourself to accept the person you are, the more you will feel empowered to act on your ideas and beliefs.  To empower others, give them the same unconditional respect and acceptance that you give yourself.

An empowered person faces a challenge with focus and energy knowing they “can” find a resolution to any issue or problem.  They stand up for their beliefs even when others may disagree.  Empowered people know what they want and passionately pursue their goals because they are confident in their abilities.  They influence those around them to be self-empowered through their positive nature and acceptance.

Image credit: symphony of love