3. PHYSICAL EMPOWERMENT
Your life, your health, your physical environment, all of the physical things
around you both living and not living, are the aspects of physical empowerment.
When you learn more about how to be aware and observe, then when you ask
yourself “How can change the way I look and feel,” you will have a system to help make
some changes.
People walk around in a state of sleep. They do things like a robot on automatic
pilot. After a while they look in the mirror and say "Oh my gosh, what happened?" Its
time to wake up before it becomes too late to really live.
I was at a friend’s house recently. One person came in, sat down and proceeded
to finish off half a bowl of potato chips. I tried to stop her by calling her name a couple
times in an attempt to wake her. She stopped with eyes wide open and she woke up to
what she was doing to herself. She was as shocked at what she was doing as she was
because someone was calling her name.
4. EMOTIONAL EMPOWERMENT
The first thing you have to look at is, do you have control over your emotions
or do they have control over you. Achieving the balance is the key. Even if you have
no emotions, it means that you are way out of balance.
Think about all the things you wish to change about your life. How do you
neutralize the bad things? How can you draw in more of the positive life force giving
things? Are you still looking for peace of mind?
Emotions flow, thoughts flow, your life flows. When we learn how to adjust
the flow we can use what is a natural process to enhance our lives and the lives of
many others.
Stress puts a negative effect on out bodies. Once we learn how to eliminate
stress at the source then we have more energy for our own health. There are many
resources for stress management. You can remove stress at its source by taking some
action towards eliminating the factors that cause stress.
5. MENTAL EMPOWERMENT
Feed your body feed your head. Let's take an honest look at is what you are
allowing to go into your head. If you eat bad food you will have a bad body. If you feed
your head with bad images, bad words, and bad thoughts you will get a bad head.
Sounds simple enough.
Here is an experiment.
1. Close your eyes
2. Visualize biting into a lemon.
3. Remember the sour taste and texture.
4. Count to 10 while thinking about the lemon.
5. Is your mouth watering?
Now think about this for a second. Is there really the bite of a lemon in your
mouth? Did your body react though? Of course it did. Look at the command you have
over your body just by thinking.
Your thoughts can either help you or hurt you. You can learn to change your
thoughts and change your life for the better.
6. SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT
Here is a reminder of things about you.
You are an infinite being who decided came down to this place and these
body to endure the hardships and enjoyable times. Why did you do this? You might
ask. It is so you can evolve as a soul and by evolving as a soul, connected to all of the
rest of us, we are all evolving. We are all truly courageous individuals to take on this
evolution on behalf of all of us. This is a beautiful thing.
There are the things we evolve from and the things we don't evolve from.
When we have examples of hardship around us it is our choice to have them there to
grow from. It is also our choice to move those experiences away from us as well. Even
when we complain and whine about how hard things are, we are given an
opportunity to evolve from them. There is always free will even when we feel or have
forgotten that we truly have it.
Whether you chose to see this or not is up to you. Not seeing or not
believing a thing is there is your choice but the sooner you come to the realization
that we are all creators of our world and co-creators of “our” world it will be easier to
understand that putting effort into evolving will help not only ourselves but all of us.
7. SELF-EMPOWERMENT encourages
people to gain the skills and
knowledge that will allow them to
overcome obstacles in life or work
environment and ultimately, help
them develop within themselves or
in the society.
8. Five qualities common among self-confident individuals:
SELF-APPRECIATION.
It is important to know what you’re good at, to develop a sense of self-dignity.
VISION.
Vision, the starting point for moving ahead, inspires individuals to proceed despite fear.
PURPOSE.
Confidence is directly linked to a sense of purpose. Although purpose is not a panacea, it makes
living worthwhile. Life matters when you have a purpose.
COMMITMENT.
This “heartfelt promise to yourself” will not let you back down.
CONTRIBUTION.
For those who live by the principle of contribution, reward follows service; getting follows giving.
Life is best when we’re happily and willingly contributing to others.
BEING SELF-CONFIDENT
9. SELF-EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS
1. BE REAL.
Hypocrisy will just bring you all the way down. Be genuinely nice and interested to people. Once they perceive that
you are Mr. Hypocrite with selfish intentions, you might as well say goodbye to self-empowerment.
2. BE THE UTMOST LISTENER THAT YOU CAN BE.
To earn the like and trust of the people, listen to them. Do not just hear them out, listen to them with your heart.
Make eye contact when the person talks to you. Listen like every word matters. They will value your relationship when
they find out that there is a confidante in you.
3. LAUGH OUT LOUD.
This does not mean that you force physically to laugh for every joke cracked by someone, albeit you do not find it
amusing at all. This means finding humour in things and not being too darn serious. A person discharge with an
awesome sense of humour attracts crowds and eventually, attracts success.
4. DO UNSYSTEMATIC ACTS OF KINDNESS.
Modest acts of kindness matters the most, and this can be as unadorned as giving someone a surprise “take-care“
card or helping an elderly cross the street.
5. CONTACT YOUR ANCIENT ACQUAINTANCES.
Sad how some friendships are destined to “goodbye”, but thanks to technology, you can do something about it. Relive
the excellent ancient days by flipping your yearbook and look for the fantastic people whom you want to converse
with again. Adding these ancient acquaintances to your list of help peers will surely make you feel good.
10. 6. MEND YOUR PERSONALITY.
Are you usually grouchy, grumpy and generally morose? Get rid of these traits and habits; they will unendingly
hamper your progress.
7. BE CONFIDENT.
Be confident enough to step to the other corner of the room and initiate conversations with people. Be confident, not
arrogant.
8. PRACTICE CONTROL.
When mad, don’t snap at anyone. Never throw a tantrum. Stay cool and collected. Be adult enough to take control of
circumstances and transform your rage into something more productive and passive. As soon as people reckon your
rage goes to volcanic proportions easily, they will find it hard to come to you.
9. KEEP NURTURING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.
Your link with your family, acquaintances and significant others is too precious that you must not neglect it no matter
what happens. Go out and have fun with them. Do things together. It’s a win-win situation; people know they can turn
to you anytime and vice versa
SELF-EMPOWERMENT IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS
11. EFFECTING INTERNAL CHANGE -
SELF EMPOWERMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
Internal change refers to everything belonging to you—your thoughts, your style of
living, your habits, your work life, and so on. In contrast to external change, it is usually easier to
effect internal change than external change because when trying to effect external change, other
people have their own beliefs and belief systems to which they usually desperately cling.
Fortunately, when you do implement internal change, the consequences of your actions can be
enormous, for you can gain much self control and better results after such self improvement.
Recognize your defect. In order to execute internal change, you first must recognize
that your present style of living or style of doing something is not in tune with your values and
your goals. You must realize that you may not be living to your full potential if you continue to
live this way. Often people are not even aware that their current way of living or doing
something is causing them problems, or actually being a burden to them. Thus, you have to have
a sense of being able to tune in on your life and actions.
If you are having a difficult time to decide what your defect is, and really are into self-
improvement, you may even want to be so drastic as to ask others what they do not like about
you. Perhaps they do not like your walking style, perhaps they do not like how you interrupt
them all the time. Family and close friends will likely give you honest advice.
12. Remember that you should not change a part of you that after having changed, you
feel you are being untrue to yourself. In other words, maintain the qualities and values that you
feel really comprise your inner character.
Resolve to commit. You must also decide that you dislike this old habit enough that
you will make the effort to change it because it is often difficult to change ingrained habits. In
other words, you have to have a high sense of dislike for this old habit. At that point, you must
make a firm resolution to change. Addictions, of course, are the most difficult habits to break off
of. That's why you should try to form a supportive network with another person, or other
people. That way, you will tend to stay on track more.
Decide upon your alternative. Next, you must decide what is the best alternative you
should change to. You don't want to switch to another bad habit. There usually is more than one
alternative to choose from. Only when you have a list of alternatives, can you come up with the
best alternative for you.
EFFECTING INTERNAL CHANGE -
SELF EMPOWERMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
13. Stick to your schedule. Doing the new activity over and over again daily until it becomes
a habit will eventually make your new habit a part of you. Usually, it is easier to substitute a new
habit for an old bad habit than just eliminating it.
For example, if in the past you enjoyed watching TV, and now would like to refrain from
watching any more, it would be easier to find something else that you can do daily at that time
to replace the TV-watching. Perhaps you can listen to the radio, or perhaps go out for a walk.
Perhaps you can learn a new language. And, as stated, you should keep to this task daily.
If at first you are unable to effect internal change, don't be hesitant to try out different
possibilities. You will eventually find a method of change that will work for you often, a method
that you can often use to change undesirable habits.
In summary, to effect internal change:
• RECOGNIZE YOUR DEFECT.
• RESOLVE TO COMMIT.
• DECIDE UPON AN ALTERNATIVE.
• CONTINUE YOUR EFFORTS.
EFFECTING INTERNAL CHANGE -
SELF EMPOWERMENT AND IMPROVEMENT
14. 7 TIPS FOR SELF-EMPOWERMENT
1. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR INTERNAL DIALOGUE AND REPLACE THE NEGATIVE WITH POSITIVE SELF-TALK.
It has been said that our minds think at 500 to 600 words per minute! And it is safe to say that NOT all those
words are positive or empowering. Being aware of the times and situations that you commonly engage in negative
self-talk can be empowering. Once you are aware you can then choose to substitute negative thoughts with
positive, confident and empowering thoughts.
2. AVOID BLAMING EXTERNAL FORCES FOR FEELING BAD AND NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.
If you are stuck in traffic and frustrated, you blame the other drivers, the city for poor planning. You have the
ability to choose your reactions, albeit, often unconsciously. Perhaps you could now choose to make time stuck in
traffic more useful. For example, in traffic, always have one of your favourite tapes available to listen to, or leave
earlier or later to avoid the traffic. Spend the extra time reading, drawing, writing or doing something you enjoy.
3. AVOID BLAMING YOURSELF FOR NOT BEING IN CONTROL OR NOT DOING IT ALL RIGHT.
If someone asked you directions to a place you have never been, would you ridicule yourself for not knowing. No!
You would do your best to direct them or suggest a place they could get directions. Yet many people looking for
directions in their own life will beat themselves up for not knowing the way. It takes time to get familiar with the
route, even if one has "been there and done that." Be patient and realize detours will occasionally come up.
4. BE CONSCIOUS OF PLAYING THE VICTIM AND MARTYR ROLES.
Too often empowerment is lost playing the "poor me" role. The victim and martyr game usually boils down to
manipulation or is a form of self-abuse, both of which stem from fear. We beat ourselves up because we think we
deserve it for some reason. Or, maybe we are trying to insure our way through manipulation: making others feel
bad so they will give in to our wants.
15. 5. RECOGNIZE YOUR PAYOFFS FOR BEING STUCK.
Investigate what you get from staying in a negative situation. There are often several. For example, you know you
need to let go of a dead-end job and find something better, but resist. What benefits are you getting out of not
going out and finding something better? Maybe you won't have to confront fears, you will not waste time looking
for another job, do not have to explain a lack of education or why you are leaving the other job, will not have to
listen to others ask you why, or maybe you are afraid you might get another job that is worse. Once you recognize
your payoffs, you will have the ability to notice patterns and develop effective ways to deal with negative payoffs.
6. DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT AND ACT ON IT.
Would you hire an employee then set him/her to work without giving them instructions or training? He/she
would aimlessly shuffle papers, get bored and likely not accomplish what you wanted. Instructions and a plan, or
at the very least a goal and practice, are needed. The same is true with new situations and behaviours. Also, stop
waiting for things to just be handed to you. Avoid the "if only" trap and take the needed steps to create what you
want.
7. BE AWARE OF THE WAY YOU COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS.
Pay attention to the way you interact with people. Do you find complaining and criticizing common? Remember
like attracts like. Choose positive people and conversations. You will feel stronger, more empowered and it helps
ward off negativity.
7 TIPS FOR SELF-EMPOWERMENT
