Empowerment is the belief that you have the ability to control the course of your life. People who don’t feel empowered may have low self-esteem, feel unmotivated to go after goals and stop working toward happiness in their lives. You can empower yourself through emotional and physical activities that get you more in touch with how you affect your environment.
Ensure that you have the basic needs of food, water, shelter and a job.Fulfilling these basic needs gives you the certainty you need to feel in control of your life.
Go for a walk. Exercise and activity is another essential human need. If possible, walk or workout outside of the home where you will get some sun, nature and interaction with other people.
Think about how much sleep you get on a daily basis. If you average less than 7 hours sleep per week, revise your schedule to meet this important need. Well-rested people have less stress and feel happier.
Make plans to interact with people. Call close friends or family, arrange for dinner with a friend or go meet some new people at a community event. Social interaction is a basic need and can improve self-esteem.
Find the silver lining. Think of past life events that make you feel powerless. Try to find a way in which they improved an aspect of your life.
Stop using the word “can’t.” It is the definition of powerlessness, because it states that you don’t have the ability to change or do something. Replace it with “won’t” or “don’t want to” which show that you have a choice in how you interact with the world.
Try a positive mantra. It can be a goal, a feeling you want to achieve or a sentence that makes you happy. Repeat it whenever you start thinking or speaking negatively.
Sign up for a class. Learning something new with a local college extension office, lifelong learning center or library is an inexpensive and powerful way to change your view of the world. Education is a powerful tool for confidence, because it gives you more opportunities.
Try meditation. Deep breathing and focusing on the present can clarify your thoughts and feel more control of your body and mind.
Determine if you are feeling weak because you recently achieved a goal.People often feel depressed or powerless after they have completed a hard-fought goal. Give yourself a few weeks to rest and then make new goals.
Make a change in your life. Pick something small you have wanted to change and make it happen. Several small decisions can be as powerful as one large life decision.
Sign up for an athletic event. Choose something you have to train for, such as a half-marathon or a Tough Mudder. Exercise teaches mental resilience because you learn to push through pain and see its benefit.
Set short-term and long-term goals. Working toward something is the culmination of self-empowerment, because you must feel as though your actions will help you achieve something.
Volunteer your time. Giving back to your community through a charity or a community organization will help you realize the power you have to affect the people around you. Schedule one hour a week or half a day each month to improve others’ lives and help them achieve their basic needs.