We’re told that Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Today, social psychologists and self-help book authors have given us no shortage of self-focused topics to pursue: self-care, self-love, self-improvement, self-empowerment, and more. But of all the “selves,” self-empowerment sounds most uniquely promising.
Who wouldn’t like to be more empowered? Empowerment makes you feel like a confident rock star and affects all areas of your life, including your career, relationships, and health. Most importantly it endows you with the power of your own voice.
Empowerment has become a buzzword in various fields, including personal development, business, and social activism. Its frequent use has led to a dilution of its true meaning. When a term is used too often and in various contexts, its significance can be lost, and people may not fully understand what it entails. What is self-empowerment, and how do we define it as it pertains to our lives?
At its best, self-empowerment refers to the process of individuals gaining control over their lives, developing a sense of agency, and taking intentional actions to shape their own destinies. It goes beyond mere self-confidence or motivation and encompasses a deeper sense of self-awareness, self-belief, and personal growth:
Self-Awareness: Self-empowerment starts with understanding oneself on a deep level and involves recognizing one\’s strengths, weaknesses, values, and aspirations. Self-awareness allows individuals to identify their passions, interests, and the things that truly matter to them, serving as a foundation for making empowered choices. Before you can develop self-awareness in your clients you must be self-aware first.
Autonomy and Agency: Self-empowerment is about embracing one\’s autonomy and recognizing the power to make decisions and take actions that align with personal goals and values. It means taking ownership of one\’s life, embracing responsibility, and refusing to be solely defined by external circumstances or others\’ expectations. As a coach, your wish for every client is to be the architect of their destiny and have the skills and knowledge to manage their life’s journey.
Resilience and Adaptability: Self-empowerment involves cultivating resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks. It means developing the ability to bounce back from adversity, learn from failures, and adapt to changing circumstances. Resilience enables individuals to persevere, maintain a positive mindset, and continue moving forward despite obstacles.
Personal Growth and Development: Self-empowerment is a lifelong journey of continuous personal growth and development. It necessitates seeking knowledge, learning new skills, and expanding one\’s comfort zone. It requires individuals to challenge themselves, embrace discomfort, and pursue self-improvement in various aspects of life.
Taking Action: Self-empowerment is not just about internal growth but also about taking intentional action. It requires setting clear goals, developing strategies, and actively working toward realizing those goals. Empowered individuals are proactive and accountable for their actions, using their power and agency to create positive change in their lives.
Authenticity and Self-Expression: Self-empowerment means embracing one\’s authentic self and expressing it freely. It involves honoring one\’s values, beliefs, and unique qualities without conforming to societal expectations or seeking external validation. Empowered individuals embrace their true selves, assert their needs and boundaries, and advocate for what they believe in.
Self-empowerment at its best is a transformative process that allows individuals to become the authors of their own lives. It involves all of the above. When individuals embody self-empowerment, they can lead fulfilling lives, make meaningful contributions to society, and inspire others to embrace their own power and potential. Given all its massive benefits, self-empowerment is a trait all coaches should try to foster in their clients.
So where to begin? Our values serve as the internal compass that guides us in making choices, shaping our behaviors, and defining the paths we take in life. They provide clarity, integrity, personal growth, resilience, meaningful connections, and a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Embracing and living by our values allows us to lead authentic and purpose-driven lives which results in a heightened level of self-empowerment.
Values can evolve and change as we grow and experience new things, so it is important to periodically review and refine our values to ensure they align with our evolving sense of self and purpose. If you have not done a values inventory recently, the following exercise is a good place to start. Coaches, feel free to share this exercise with your clients.
- Set aside dedicated time: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can reflect without distractions. Allocate sufficient time for this exercise, as it requires thoughtful introspection.
- Reflect on meaningful experiences: Start by thinking about moments in your life when you felt fulfilled, content, or deeply satisfied. Consider situations where you were proud of yourself, inspired, or felt a strong sense of purpose. Reflect on what made those experiences significant to you and why they resonated with you.
- Identify core emotions: Pay attention to the emotions associated with those meaningful experiences. What feelings did you experience during those moments? Joy, fulfillment, excitement, compassion, achievement, connection? Identifying the core emotions can provide insights into the values that underpin those experiences.
- Consider influential figures: Think about individuals who have had a significant impact on your life, such as role models, mentors, or people you admire. What qualities or characteristics do you value in them? These qualities can provide clues about the values you hold dear.
- Explore personal strengths: Reflect on your unique strengths, talents, and skills. Consider the activities or areas of life where you feel most confident, competent, and in your element. These areas often align with your values, as engaging in activities that resonate with your values tends to bring out your best.
- To further clarify your values, ask yourself questions such as:
What principles do I consider non-negotiable in my life?
What causes or issues am I passionate about?
What qualities and virtues do I strive to embody?
What aspects of life do I prioritize the most?
What do I want to be remembered for?
- List and refine your values: Based on your reflections, make a list of the values that emerge as significant to you. Write them down as single words or short phrases. Aim for a list of 5-10 core values that resonate deeply with you.
- Prioritize your values: Once you have your list, prioritize your values based on their importance to you. Consider which values are most essential to your identity and the life you want to live. Use those values to support the life goals you create. A goal that conflicts with our values will cause us to be miserable in its pursuit and derail our life’s purpose.
Knowing your values enhances self-empowerment by providing clarity of purpose, promoting authenticity, increasing self-awareness, guiding decision-making, establishing boundaries, and fostering resilience and fulfillment. By living in alignment with your values, you can create a life that reflects your true self and empowers you to achieve your goals and aspirations.
Author Ernest Hemingway said, “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
Self-empowerment is a demanding but worthwhile journey that begins in your heart and mind and radiates outward. If done well, it can improve your personal and professional life and the lives of your family, friends, and co-workers.
Watch for our next article addressing a key outcome of the limitless mindset and the cohort of self-empowerment: self-efficacy, an individual’s belief in their own ability to successfully accomplish tasks, achieve goals, and overcome challenges.
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.”
Thanks for reading!
Additional Resources:
FREE Infographic: 6 Powerful Ways to Use Self-Empowerment in Your Everyday Life (see below)
For more information about self-awareness and the importance of values, read The Passionate Coach, A Practical Guide to the Art of Transformational Coaching, available on Amazon.