Power Up

“I’m talking to the man in the mirror…” Michael Jackson

Definition of Self-Empowerment : “Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, or economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities.”

The source of this definition is not important. What I want to focus on is the second sentence. Who are the empowered? WE are the empowered. I once heard a story about a man that lived a poor, meager existence his whole life. Before he died, he discovered that a rich inheritance had been left to him years prior but he was unaware. I think so many of us live this way. We live poor and destitute lives, not understanding that we hold the power to change. I do believe in obstacles. I have many: A brain that never stops moving in a million directions. Massive debt acquired through years of bad money management. Sore feet that scream every time I exercise. However, I will not give up. Being aware of your limitations and obstacles is the first step in making worthwhile changes.

I understood this sense of self-empowerment four years ago when I decided to lose weight and a few months earlier when starting on my doctorate. I had resigned to live the life I had created, which included not achieving a dream I have had since I was 22 and also not being healthy. So many people live in a world of hopes and dreams but do not try to make them a reality. They have given up on dreams they had since childhood. They have given up on life. Until we find the power that is within ourselves, we will never break the chains of despair. We hold the key in our hands. God will give us the power to help ourselves. Does that mean that everything we ask for from God will be given to us? The answer is a definitive NO!! But God does give us the power to make changes in our lives and break away from bad habits. He will also help us to keep those changes permanent. My son recently discovered self-empowerment when trying to change his eating and exercise habits. He realized the power to make those changes was right in front of him. What a spark!! What a revelation!! What a light bulb moment!! 

Self-empowerment has another consequence. It leads to synergy. This means that success in one area of your life leads to changes in other areas. Changes in yourself leads to changes in those you inspire. All of your group’s changes lead to a changed community and a changed world. Is this pie in the sky? Maybe. But who knows what changes can be made by one individual who inspires changes in others. Many people are the exact opposite. They are like a boat anchor dragging others to the bottom. No hope of success. Blaming others on their inability to succeed. Despair and desperation. How sad is an individual with no power and no hope?

Will we still have failures? Will we still not reach every goal we set? Of course. But the thrill of life is in the journey. Crossing the finish line or walking the stage for that college degree. The thrill is looking back from the top of the mountain to see all the obstacles you have traversed and feeling the sweet satisfaction of success. There is no greater feeling.