Be Self-Empowered
Being empowered is a state of mind. There shouldn't be one person on this planet who is not empowered.
Being empowered is about making decisions and taking action. As the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The key idea of self-empowerment is making a decision to take ownership of our direction and lead ourselves.
I've Got the Power
If we want to build our dreams, we won't get far if we look for excuses why we can't. If there is something we want, we should look for ways we can get it.
Being self-empowered is a choice; a choice to reject excuses and believe that there is a way.
There are real obstacles that we will encounter on our way. I tried to write books thirty years ago, but I stopped myself. I saw a huge obstacle, and I couldn't see a way around it. I rejected the entire idea, and moved on. But if we live long enough, life has a way confronting us with second, third, and fourth chances. That's calling. Calling won't let us go.
If we have a calling, then certainly we must be empowered to live it out.
Lead Yourself
Once we choose a self-empowered mindset we will also need to gain skills as a self-leader. Self-leadership is about having a vision for your life and creating a plan to obtain it. It is about holding ourselves accountable for our dream. Every dream comes with tasks that are challenging. We have to lead ourselves through each challenge.
Sometimes we won't feel up to the challenge. We get derailed with one of many unempowering emotions. This might be the biggest challenge to self-leadership. We need to learn how to be our own advocate and counselor. It's great to have emotional support from a friend, but we can't rely on it all the time. No one will care about our dreams more than we do.
We can handle emotional challenges just like solving any other problem. The first step is to identify the feeling, and there are many: unmotivated, discouraged, bored, frustrated, angry, agitated, jealous, demoralized, afraid, anxious, and others. Once we identify the feeling, we can try different things in order to come back to an empowered state. A simple example is: if we're frustrated, we can take a walk, take a breath, or change tasks. Whatever works. The last thing we want to do is stew in an unempowering feeling.
We Have a Story
There is a theme in life that spans the centuries of human existence. The best description of this is the hero's journey. It can be summarized as a sense of calling, a journey of challenge, and a return home to share the story of what we learned.
Once we gain practical experience in self-empowerment and self-leadership, we will have a desire to help others. Maybe we are a role model, or maybe we give speeches, or write books, or volunteer for a cause that is close to our hearts, or simply be a good friend. Whatever it is, we are empowered for the benefit of others.
Finally
I believe we all have a calling. We all have a unique journey. And if we follow the calling we will grow in ways that give us a sense of fulfillment.
We are the architects and founders of our dreams. If we answer our calling, then we are empowered. We learn how to be our own advocate. And along the way, we have a story to tell.
To your success!
James Wilder
"You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path. Where there is a way or path, it is someone else's path. If you follow someone else's way, you are not going to realize your potential." -Joseph Campbell
What is Your Dream?
My dream is to write small but powerful books that simplify success and inspire greatness.
You can read these books, and more, FREE at www.jamesonsuccess.com/books.
FOUNDER - How to Build a Foundation for your Dreams.
BUILDER - The five pillars of following your dream and building something that matters.
ABUNDANCE - Living a life of more than enough.
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