Self Empowerment
The Ball is in Your Court

What is Self Empowerment?

So what exactly is self empowerment anyways? Is it just the latest catchy term or is it something we need to have on our radar?

Self empowerment is something you need to be very aware of, especially in today's day and age. In a time, when governments are in bad shape and the economy is failing fast, your ability to stand up for yourself could make a huge difference in your ability to survive.

In a previous article, we talked about marginalization and labels and entitlement and allotment. This article intends to tear apart the whole idea of labels and entitlement.

First and foremost, you are NOT too fat, too poor, too young or too old. You are NOT the wrong color or the wrong height or in the wrong job or the wrong religion. YOU are just YOU. Now, if you’re not happy with yourself for reasons created solely by you then that is another matter. Self empowerment is all about setting your own standards for yourself.

Don’t compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to yourself. Look to others to be role models once you have already decided what you want for yourself. It's always easier to copy someone else's success to create a new reality than it is to re-invent the wheel on your own. If you are not happy with where you are in your life, do something about it. Don’t worry about society’s opinion. Society is completely messed up.

Rating Yourself Against Society’s
Measuring Stick is Guaranteed Failure.

• Take the issue of weight and physical appearance: Society says that if you don’t look like Angelina Jolie then you must be too fat, but if you do look like her, then you’re definitely too thin and you should gain weight.
• Take careers and education: Society says that if you don’t have seven years of university and work in a big downtown law firm, then you are no good, but, if you are a lawyer, then you have no morals and you’re also no good.
• Take stay-at-home moms or dads: Society says that if you choose to stay at home with your kids, then you are not contributing enough to society because you don’t have a job and so therefore you are not valued, but, if you work out of the home, then you are not a good parent because you’re not spending enough time with your children.

Personally, I think the whole thing is a big joke and society is crazy. Letting society dictate your life would be like allowing the court jester to run the country. There is, definitely, no empowerment of self in this type of thinking.

Choices On Your Own Terms

Self empowerment is making your own choices on your own terms and conditions. Of course, with self empowerment comes responsibility. If you’re going to be satisfied with high debt and being overweight and working in a lousy job with horrible children and lousy marriage then don’t blame it on society. It’s not society's fault that you choose to live that way.

And don’t expect society to bail you out either. Society is great at being judgmental, but it is a lousy money manager. Society can’t even come close to being able to afford to save your butt. It’s the same as with your over-functioning stress response.

Stop working society overtime paying for all your mistakes and choices. Start making better decisions and take back control of your health and your life.

Self Empowerment is

Having personal decision-making power.

Having access to information and tools for making proper decisions.

Having many options from which to make choices.

Having a voice in group decision making.

Having a positive attitude about making change.

Having the ability to learn skills to improve personal or group power.

Having the ability to change others’ perceptions by democratic means.

Having the ability to improve your self-image and overcome labels.

Having the ability to sort out right and wrong, individually.

Having the ability to create personal change and be growth-oriented.

In short, empowerment is the process that allows one to gain the knowledge, skill-sets and attitude needed to cope with the changing world and the circumstances in which one lives.

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