Focus is within your control, but what if the people around you see things through a different lenses? Will you lose your vision? People can only derail you by that much, but if the majority of your circle of influence is completely off with what you are trying to achieve, the chances of persisting with your vision become lower and lower. Focus not only on your goal, but make sure that the people you are sharing your views with don’t have leverage on you. Stay truthful to who you are.
Have you ever had differences of opinion or found yourself outside of the norm? As challenging as it can be, take that as a sign of growth. We are all moving through life at different speeds and going into different directions. It comes a point when discovering who we are and who we can be is stronger than the need for validation. That’s the point where building a powerful life and a powerful you begins.
Taking responsibility takes courage and a strong sense of self. It is a trait of an honorable person. But what if you’ve learnt early on that by taking responsibility you expose yourself to the vulnerability of being blamed? Blame is a negative emotion and it sits at the opposite side of the spectrum from taking responsibility. If it’s being projected on us, it reveals feeling that the other person has difficulty dealing with. By taking responsibility you can set a barrier between what matters and the void of being trapped in the past. Blame doesn’t exist in the present moment.
Love and labeling don’t go hand in hand. As tempted as we may be to label feelings, reactions, people or things happening into our life, we have the power to set them free from patterns that harm us. We have the power to free ourselves from emotions that don’t serve us. Criticism of others or ourselves can only be useful when it brings actionable thoughts. On your walks or talks today, keep an open mind about whatever might come your way. Nothing can touch you unless you let it.
As much as we hold back from admitting it, power is deeply linked to our identity. It’s not an external force governing our life. Growing our inner power determines how others will use their power on us. This understanding of power steers us away from the passivity of being and the victim mindset that ‘others’ have ‘the’ power.
We don’t naturally speak about power over lunch, unless it appears in a form that affects us to such a degree that we can’t look away. It can be arguing over a parking spot or paying taxes. It can be that we want pasta for dinner while our partner wants rice. Regardless of the elements in place, power is the talk of the town when there is an imbalance.
Cultivating our inner power and influence is not something that should be put on hold. Our power is what moves the fallen trees out of our path so that we can move forward, grow and tackle any injustice from a position of equality. It’s up to us to build ourselves up before it’s too late.
What do you see when you are looking at your reflection in the mirror? Do you see someone who will power through, step over self-enforced limitations or someone who is scared and worried? All people, regardless of their ability to push themselves forward, had points in their life of feeling insecure and defeated. What matters is what we make out of that situation.
That tingle in your hands and dryness of throat signals that something exceptional is about to happen. Something we have never experienced before. Unless there is a real threat to life, realistically our brain and body is playing up the fear of the unknown. There are different strategies to manage anxiety and the anticipation of uncertainty and I am a huge believer of positive self-talk. This on itself can be uncomfortable, but power does come from within.
Love and kindness affirmations practiced in our head or said out loud in the shower or in front of a mirror help flip the narrative of negative self-talk. Positive self-talk does not replace taking action. Positive self-talk is a device that increases our confidence and with that, our chances of moving forward.
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