No one can empower you but yourself! And...
…how to become the director of your career/business and your life by doing it
Introduction
There is so much talk about empowerment; it’s become a buzzword: Women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, empowerment here, empowerment there…
But the truth is: No one can empower you but yourself!
Empower (em-power) means to place power inside of someone. – How would they do this?
Now, another person may transfer legal powers to you, or the so-called “power” that comes with a position of authority. They can also give you money, training, tools, and other resources – which you can either put to good use or let go to waste… because this is not “empowerment.”
The real power, your creative power, that power that no one can take away from you, that is power that originates within. No one can grant this type of power to you, and no one can place it inside of you, and that’s also not necessary. Because it’s already there.
Our power doesn’t spring from an external source. Our power is already inside of us, and this is where it has always been. We may just not be aware of it or disconnected from it. (This is not surprising, as we’re literally educated out of it.) And when we’re not connected to it, it’s as if we’re trying to watch TV without plugging in the power cord. Power energy cannot flow. So, we must first plug in our inner power cord so we can feel our power – our inner power – and trust that it’s there.
We can tap into this inner power through our mindset, our heartset, energetically or spiritually… and preferably in all four ways.
Everything you need to be successful is in you: In your mind, your heart, your body, your energy, your spirit.
Let’s explore this together, and let’s start with mindset.
A Self-Empowering Mindset
We know that we must believe in ourselves in order to achieve success and live our wildest dreams. – But that is easier said than done.
The tricky part is that over 95% of our behavior is driven by our subconscious. We think we’re in control but we’re really not. What’s in control is our subconscious programming or conditioning. This conditioning is like a computer script: It’s filled up with data that is constantly bombarding us from all sides: our parents, teachers, families, culture, religion, the media, the collective conscious and subconscious… from the moment we are born. And we even bring some of this data with us in our genes. We are not born as clean slates.
And soon, we are programmed further – through our upbringing, education, the world that surrounds us, our experiences...
From very young, we learn that we are not enough. Our parents criticize us, our teachers scold us when we don’t give the one and only acceptable answer. We’re educated out of using our creative potential. Instead of creativity, we are taught limitation. But we are limitless. Our potential is infinite. So when people say, step into your full potential, that is not even possible. You can never use your full potential because your potential expands every time to step deeper into it. We all have untapped potential, at any given time, and we are called to explore its vastness.
All this programming pretty much keeps us on autopilot, it controls our thoughts and our behaviors… We think about 70-80,000 thoughts a day, and 90% are of the same nature as our thoughts of the previous day.
Reflect on this for a moment: What are most of your thoughts about? Are they empowering or disempowering? Are you thinking your thoughts or are your thoughts thinking you? Where do they even come from? – Interesting question, right?
As some have said: our mind is a great servant but a lousy master.
So, for us to take control, we must become the observers of our thoughts and learn to master them. This requires daily practice. What’s been recorded over all these years is not easily deleted in a day. But it’s all about progress, and it’s a journey worth walking on.
From very young, we learn that we are not enough. Our parents criticize us, our teachers scold us when we don’t give the one and only acceptable answer. We’re educated out of using our creative potential. Instead of creativity, we are taught limitation. But we are limitless. Our potential is infinite. So when people say, step into your full potential, that is not even possible. You can never use your full potential because your potential expands every time to step deeper into it. We all have untapped potential, at any given time, and we are called to explore its vastness.
Now, of course, mindset is key… but the mind is most powerful when it is led by the heart.
Mindset and heartset must go hand in hand because they are better together. When your heart and mind are in co-creation, you will be able to use the power of both: the intellectual power of the mind, on the one hand, and the you-specific wisdom of the heart, on the other… that wisdom that you have gathered through your unique life and experiences.
A Self-Empowering Heartset
It is noteworthy that the heart isn’t just a blood-pumping organ. It is a part of the brain with 40,000 brain-like cells called sensory neurites, which feel and remember similarly to the neurons in the head brain, independently of the head brain. Just like all other organs, our heart continuously communicates with the cranial brain. But we could say that our heart brain and our cranial brain have a “special connection.” Scientists have found that they communicate in at least 4 ways: neurologically, biochemically, biophysically, and energetically. (Feel free to consult the research of the HeartMath Institute.)
Scientists have found that the heart’s electrical field is 100x as strong as the brain’s electrical field magnetic field of the heart can even be up to 5,000 times stronger than the head brain’s magnetic field. What’s also interesting is that the heart’s electromagnetic frequency creates a torus-shaped field.
What does this mean? It means that our connection with the world around us happens through our hearts to a very large extent. Our heart is literally a magnet because of the strong magnetic frequency it emanates, that strong signal it sends out. It is the home of our magnetic monopole, which attracts things and people toward us.
Our heart holds many treasures: It is where we can find courage. (Courage is in the heart, fear is in the mind.) It is where love, self-love, and compassion reside. We can ask it for answers as it speaks to us through with its intuitive voice… if we are willing to listen. (Questions are in the mind, answers are in the heart.)
The magic happens when your heart and your mind become coherent, when they work together in harmony. Hence my teachings around a Self-Empowering Mindset & Heartset.
Self-Empowering Energy
It takes seven seconds to make a first impression, right? – That’s at least what we hear all the time. When, in reality, it takes a mere 0.07 seconds for our brains to figure out whether we can trust someone.
That is less than a blink of an eye. It must happen this fast because it is part of our survival mechanism. This is about our energy. Preparing energetically can change how you show up in business, in your career, and in life in general.
So, can you see now that it makes all the difference when you optimize your energy before meetings, job interviews, presentations, critical conversations, negotiations, or any other challenging situations?
Of course, our energy is inseparable from our body. Our posture and our body language impact the energy we convey and vice versa. Thus, power posing (as introduced by Amy Cuddy) or power dancing (my preferred variant) help us feel more confident. When we focus on our power energy, our inner power expands, this enhances our perceived (energetic) presence.
There are many other ways to optimize your energy and enhance your business and speaking presence, as described in some of the exercises included in my book Speak up, Stand out and Shine.
A Self-Empowering Spirit
Each of us may have a different spiritual practice, and as long as it doesn’t limit us (as many religious organizations have tried to do for the sake of controlling humans and keeping them smaller than they really are), any of them can be valuable in the context of self-empowerment.
What is important for any spiritual self-empowerment practice is that you don’t see yourself as the victim of your circumstances. This, again, is related to your mindset. Nothing is separate. All four elements are in fact inseparably intertwined, even if we contemplate them separately for the sake of offering some facts and suggested practices.
First and foremost, we are spiritual beings, and we are having a human experience. This means, we don’t “become spiritual.” We are spiritual. So, from my perspective, everyone is invited to connect to their highest spiritual self to explore which practice is most beneficial to them.
I consider myself a free spirit. My spiritual essence doesn’t fit into any religious doctrine, and as a spiritual being, I can talk to God, my Source, my Creator directly. I need no intermediary and I prefer to avoid distortions. You are free to decide this for yourself. After all, you have been given free will for a reason.
In summary, if you rely on someone else to empower you, this may result in huge disappointment. Because it’s just not possible. That’s the bad news.
The good news is, you can empower yourself. In fact, you are already em-powered. You just need to remember to connect with the power that is in you so you can unleash it and tap into greater depths of your unused potential.
Always remember: You are meant to be the director of your life. This role comes with responsibility. It requires taking risks. But it also comes with the gift of freedom and unlimited possibilities.
I wish you the best, always!
Regina
0 notes
New Post has been published on Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc.
New Post has been published on https://www.brilliantbreakthroughs.com/intentional-self-leadership/
Intentional SELF-Leadership Create Success
What is Intentional SELF-Leadership?
Intentional SELF-Leadership impacts your success as gentle flowing water transforms the shape of a stone.
After I wrote a chapter on how “Success Starts with Intentional SELF-Leadership”, in the #1 Bestselling Book for Small Businesses, small business owners and entrepreneurs started reaching out to me and began asking me oodles of questions. I was elated because they understood how critical this is to their business’s success.
I assure you the impact it provides is grander than the credit you’ll ever give it – until you are a practitioner!
Let’s begin with some definitions for clarity
If you want to better understand leadership, and what it is and isn’t, we need to first understand a simplified definition of a leader. A leader is: “one who assumes a position and is responsible for influencing of others”.
Now let’s add a definition of leadership. Leadership is: “the influence of a person or team to guide another person or team”.
Intentional is defined as: “when done consciously or deliberately”.
The last definition for this post is influence. Influence is defined as: “to have an effect upon someone or something”.
Note: These definitions, as well as others defining different types of leadership and management, are from The Glossary of Chapter 5 of “Brilliant Breakthroughs for the Small Business Owner: Fresh Perspectives on Profitability, People, Productivity, and Finding Peace in your Business – Volume 5“.
So what is SELF-Leadership?
SELF-Leadership is all about you! Just like any significant transformation, it starts from within. I know you understand what I’m sharing. We all know statements like “Happiness is an inside job” or “Peace starts from within”. Why? It’s true. There are approximately 100 years of research validating the same is true for leadership too!
After conducting plenty of research, I have concluded that SELF-Leadership is defined as “An ongoing practice of advancing a leader’s thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve desired outcomes”. I bet you’re nodding your head in agreement Good!
This last definition ups the game of leadership, doesn’t it? SELF-Leadership debunks the leadership myth of “you’re a leader if you turn around and see others are following you”. How so? Because you can be leading from a still point (oneself) or from the rear instead of the front. During podcast episode BB245: Intentional SELF-Leadership -Part 4 of the Brilliant Breakthroughs Business Podcast, I share a funny childhood story that debunks this leadership myth.
Through the ongoing practice of SELF-Leadership, leaders are being refined to the next level of leadership. It sure appears to be the quality control factor so leaders can become great leaders instead of becoming a dud, who is a leader by position and/or title only.
What is Intentional SELF-Leadership?
Intentional SELF-Leadership is the premiere leadership approach and practice. It means that a leader is conscientiously and deliberately practicing the advancement of their thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve desired outcomes. This is like putting your vision and goals on steroids – and that’s why it delivers unconventional results!
Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Other than the self-management of the continual practicing aspect, it is pretty easy. Ok, after you learn how to do it! When I’m working with clients, I’m teaching them how to do this without a fancy name or process. I guide them to incorporate it into their daily practice of business ownership and it auto-magically happens 🙂
As I reflect upon 20+ years of business coaching, it’s evident that Intentional SELF-Leadership is the game changer for all types of business leaders. When practicing Intentional SELF-Leadership, you will function optimally and make better business decisions (life decisions too). You can do this because you are applying the ancient practice of Right Thoughts coupled with Right Actions to actualize your desired outcomes.
Is Intentional SELF-Leadership for all Business Leaders?
It can be for all leaders – tenured or new, solo entrepreneurs or corporate. The deciding factor is what are you willing to do to achieve the results you seek?
Does this mean every day is perfect and without glitches? No. Does it mean you will have a clear path and actions to your destination? Yes.
Is it worth the time to gain clarity and align your actions? Yes! Is it for leaders who are looking for a quick fix? No.
Intentional SELF-Leadership is for leaders interested in the long-term game, satisfying wins, and sustainable gains. My quote, “Slow down to accelerate.” is one of the methodologies applied to becoming a successful intentional leader. This transformational approach is very much like water flowing over a stone to give the stone a beautiful new shape.
When goals aren’t being met or frustrations occur, it’s common for leaders to look outwardly and sleuth what needs to change to generate better results. Instead, what if they first took a look inwardly to discover what changes may be beneficial?
It’s time for you to shine brightly as a leader!
If this seems practical to you, it’s time for you to learn more about Inward Leadership. It’s my version of Intentional SELF-Leadership 🙂 Tap here to go to the Inward Leader Page. When you do, I’ll email you the 10-Step Process to Practice Inward Leadership (no cost – yes, I’m that committed to helping others learn this). It’ll land in your inbox and then each week I’ll guide you through the next step until we complete all 10 steps.
WE APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING US TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS!
Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc. helps Small Business Owners
Simplify Strategies & Align Actions
to advance Profitability, Peace, & Potential.
Call Maggie (262) 716.7750 for YOUR No-cost Consultation
Blessings of Success to YOU ~
Maggie Mongan, CEO
Small Business Thought Leader
Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc.
Direct Dial: 262-716-7750
LinkedIn: MaggieMongan
p.s.: It’s time to simplify your success and shine brightly!
Copyright owned by Brilliant Breakthroughs, Inc. The internet is about sharing. Please share this post in its entirety.
0 notes