THE FIRST STEP TOWARD SELF EMPOWERMENT

I remember, a few years ago, I was faced with what I identified as having no choices.  I had slowly and thoroughly abdicated my own authority, my own sovereignty, while silencing my own voice.  I was living in an unacceptable situation which I had, over time, convinced myself was acceptable.  I believed I had no choice. 

In talking with a friend, I said I don't have any options.  I have no choice, I'm stuck here.  No sooner was it out of my mouth, I realized the truth of it.  I was stuck because I didn't like my choices, not because I didn't have any. The reason I didn't like any of my choices was I had fallen so far from responsibility for my own life, my own condition, my own circumstances.

I assessed my options and although both choices seemed horrible, I made the one that was less so.  Shortly I was faced with two more choices and again, chose the less reprehensible one which led to another set, then another set and each time choosing the most positive, uplifting option leading me out of the darkness of being controlled by another person.  Finally I reached a place where I actually had some pretty awesome options in front of me and I felt myself emerge out of the cloud of doubt, despair and desperation.

When one finds himself in a situational pattern in his daily life, like I had, clearly different choices had to be made. I had been confused by movement, thinking everything was fine because I was moving until I realized I was in a loop.  I had been working extremely hard, but the vibration around my activity had become predictable, routine, a circular rut of perceived safety.

It took some bold steps, acknowledging within myself my responsibility, releasing of material things, a willingness to look honestly at who I am and what I value, then taking appropriate steps to bring my life around to align with something powerful again.

I found the first step toward Self-Empowerment was the acceptance of the idea that everything I do is a choice I make.  I may not like the choices I have in front of me because they are uncomfortable, but looking further at the results or consequences of available choices, the right one became obvious.  I may not like the choice of going to work when my alarm goes off, but if I think it through, I will like having the money it provides, so my choice is obvious.

This is a simple example but it applies to all things.  We make the choices we make for the payout it provides.  We all do what is important to us. Everyone, every time.  So, if you aren't doing something, while telling yourself you so want to do it, you are lying to yourself to live up to an illusion of who you are or want to be.

Our Self-Respect is evident in everything we do, every choice we make; While our Self-Love is reflected back to us in our treatment of others. 

- Robert Madden