3 Essential Keys to Self-Empowerment
By Angelika Matev
In this article, I share three essential keys that you can follow to step into your personal power to succeed in life and achieve authentic happiness.
The concept of power has been traditionally viewed as rather negative. In the collective mind, power is more of an attribute of individuals and groups in a position to exploit and dominate people and nations. Therefore, this kind of power is usually oppressive, manipulative, and aggressive.
Personal power, on the other hand, has a very different meaning and purpose. Healthy self-esteem, confidence, and the ability for self-regulation are all elements of personal power.
The abuse of power creates dictators. Personal power creates assertive and balanced individuals. Empowered people have great potential for inner growth and the ability to forge their own path in life.
Why it's vital to step into your personal power
Many people are unaware of the importance of personal empowerment. However, life crises and events which shake the foundation of our reality, make us realize that tapping into our inner strength is the only real way out.
Just like the immune system gets activated when a virus attacks the body, our personal power emerges to help us get through difficult times. Its role is to strengthen our psychological immunity when we must face dramatic events and circumstances.
I’ve lived through a series of devastating experiences when I lost two close family members within two weeks. I lost a husband and my mother to cancer, and it felt as if my whole world fell apart.
Although I have successfully handled several demanding situations in my life before, these two events had an unprecedented impact on me. I had to choose – give up and drown in grief or connect with my core energy and inner power and rebuild my life.
Relying on my power helped me overcome a great deal of suffering and hardship. I changed my life, grew as a person, found love again, and decided to pursue my dreams. All this would have been impossible without claiming and stepping into my personal power.
Some benefits of stepping into your personal power
• A greater sense of purpose and meaning
Personal power eliminates the victim mentality and motivates ambitions and the pursuit of dreams.
• Fear no longer runs the show
Self-empowerment keeps fear and extreme anxiety in check and improves general wellness, in turn.
• Growth mindset
Inner power fuels our desire for self-improvement and motivates us for success and achievement.
• Less stress
An empowered individual enjoys better inner peace and handles even tough situations with calm and objectivity.
• Enhanced creativity and self-expression
Personal power unlocks the confidence to share our gifts and talents with the world.
• Increased likability
People are naturally drawn to those who exert strength, stability, and confidence as an expression of their power. Such individuals are capable and reliable. Their opinions and advice are valued and appreciated.
• Improved relationships
When disconnected from their power, people seek validation in relationships, led by their insecurity and lack of self-trust.
Self-empowered people are emotionally mature and independent. They bring to the relationship their ability to give and receive love. And they don’t expect others to fill their voids and satisfy their emotional needs. For the empowered partner, the relationship is an opportunity for growth and betterment, individually and as a couple.
• Success and prosperity
Personal power is vital for achieving success in all areas of life. It provides us with a sense of direction and helps us reach our fullest potential.
"And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
The 3 Essential Keys to step into your personal power to succeed in life and achieve authentic happiness
Key 1: Connect with Your Inner Self
What is the Inner Self?
For centuries, some of the most brilliant minds in history have been dedicating their work to understanding human nature.
Philosophy, psychology, spiritual, religious, and social studies have been tirelessly analyzing the complexity of the human psyche. They were all looking for an answer to the perennial question: What makes an individual who they truly are?
There are many theories and interpretations of the subject. However, the concept of the Self and the inner world is fundamental to the theory of personality.
You can learn more about the concept of the Self in this article from Psychology Today.
For this article, I suggest the following definition: the inner Self is the core of our being. It represents the uniqueness of our soul, mind, and spirit. The Self is our true identity that finds expression through specific personality traits.
Connecting with our inner Self is aligning with our essence. When that connection drives all of our decisions, words, and actions, they come from a place of authenticity and balance. As a result, we enjoy personal freedom, we become whole, and we live life on our terms.
That is the ultimate manifestation of personal power..
Outer Self and Inner Self
Before we build that connection with the Self, first, we need to understand the difference between Outer and Inner Self, clearly.
Some associate the outer Self with the ego. Through the ego, we protect ourselves, interact with the world, and take care of our physical and material needs.
The Outer Self, also called curated Self, projects a particular image based on the persona we choose in social environments.
To a certain extent, it’s reasonable to adopt a particular appearance and behavior to present ourselves in society. However, many people make that a permanent habit and get stuck in their outer, ego-driven Self. They completely forget and lose touch with their core being.
Sometimes excessive efforts to be socially acceptable and approved by groups and communities lead to a dangerous suppression of individuality. The result is a fake, forced to existence image that, over time, can become a heavy burden.
The inner Self, on the other hand, is healthy and strong in its presence because it is our most authentic part, our essence.
Outer Self, is constantly out there, always preoccupied to survive and impress. Inner Self is quietly waiting to be discovered, acknowledged, and embraced.
Our thoughts, feelings, desires, creative impulses, and intuition are all part of our inner world. Naturally, they shape our true identity and represent the authentic source of our personal power.
Therefore, we need to focus less on the ‘selfie’ and more on the Self!
Pure, unconditional love comes from our inner Self too.
Some say pets connect with our inner Self, even our higher Self. When they look at us and want to be near us, they feel the source of that pure, divine energy we call love.
Finding balance
We need to integrate and balance the Outer and the Inner Self to achieve wholeness. They need to work together so we can find our place in the world without betraying our truth and values.
If these main parts of our identity are in conflict, a person could become psychologically fragmented. As a result, they could suffer from severe stress, depression, and various other issues.
Inner world exploration, self-love, and self-awareness are the pillars of a deep connection with the inner Self. All clarity, peace, and healing come from the source within.
Consciously developing that connection is the most direct and effective way of stepping into your power! That’s the key to unlock your path to an authentic and happy life.
Key 2: Own Your Value with Confidence
Everyone has a story, which is the sum of their experiences and their place in the world.
The value of each story is unique, and so is the hero of that story. We are all valuable and important in our own way. This value doesn’t necessarily show as significant achievements or popularity. It’s part of how we go through life and the way we treat ourselves and others in the process.
To be successful and fulfilled, you need to trust yourself and believe in the value you bring to the world.
You may not realize it, but your words and actions could be immensely valuable. Whether it’s a meal, cooked with love, or a significant scientific discovery, the importance of our role in life is always present. Regardless of the scale, everyone has some value to offer.
Sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit for all the achievements, contributions, and positive difference we have made. Consequently, we tend to diminish the importance of our capabilities and value.
An inspiring story
I remember a client of mine who felt that she didn’t have anything worth sharing with the world.
She told me once: I’m too ordinary, and my life is so dull and boring…I can’t even find a decent job. The only thing I can do well is, tell stories and fairy tales, but who needs that in the digital age?‘
A few months after we concluded our sessions, she called me to share some great news. Finally, she has found a job as a Special Education Assistant and was working with children with learning disabilities. She told me she’s never been happier.
Starting to believe in her worth and value changed everything for her.
She felt truly empowered. As a result, a world of possibilities opened to her! Furthermore, she found a new sense of purpose and meaning.
The message of this inspiring story is that when you realize there are many ways you can make yourself and others happy, you transform. Finally, you are ready to own your value with confidence and change your life. And that is a clear manifestation of personal power!
Key 3: Make Authentic Choices
We continuously hear about informed choices, suitable choices, happy choices. But the ones that truly matter are the AUTHENTIC choices. They come from a place of self-confidence and personal wisdom, aligned with our inner truth.
"Our authentic power is found in our truth. This is the place that shows us how to give what is so very good about ourselves."
The reality we experience is a reflection of our choices.
This statement could be genuinely inspiring but quite scary, as well.
For the empowered, self-confident person, the link between choice and quality of life is an exciting opportunity. Above all, it’s a chance to be in charge of their happiness and create the experience they want.
But for those whose decisions and choices are driven by insecurity, doubt, and fear, the result is very different. It often involves disappointment, even failure.
The inauthentic choices can never take us to where we truly want to be. People settle for a job, a relationship, or simply decide to give up. They do it out of fear and worry that they won’t have a better chance, so they grab whatever is within their reach.
That is a clear sign of a lack of self-esteem and dangerous disempowerment.
We are our choices.
Choices and underlying beliefs
Let’s look at a few examples illustrating negative self-talk. It is usually provoked by the lack of personal power and the underlying self-sabotaging beliefs that produce it.
‘I’m going to say yes to that offer as it’s probably the best one I can get.’
Underlying belief: ‘I’m not good enough, so I shouldn’t expect great things to happen to me.’
‘This is not the love of my life. But I’d better accept that proposal as I might not get another ever again. Then, I’ll be alone for the rest of my life..’.
Underlying belief: ‘I’m undeserving of happiness as I’m too flawed. It’s better to accept whatever is available to me, and never ask for more.’
‘I’m not going to pursue that dream of mine as it’s too demanding and too risky.’
Underlying belief: ‘it’s too much for me, and I’m too weak to make this happen.’
It’s clear that shifting our mindset and re-framing our self-limiting beliefs is key to empowerment.
We must align our most important choices with our essence, personal wisdom, and own truth.
If we do that, miracles happen, and our lives become living proof that personal magic exists!
The code we need to activate it consists of three words:
APPLIED PERSONAL POWER.
Summary:
How to Step into Your Personal Power - 3 Essential Keys to Self-Empowerment
Key 1: Connect with Your Inner Self
Key 2: Own Your Value
Key 3: Make Authentic Choices
In Conclusion:
Now you understand much better the importance and value of self-empowerment. Also, you know the three essential keys to follow to step into your personal power to succeed in life and achieve authentic happiness.
If you choose to apply those, you will soon see a considerable improvement in different aspects of your life.
But it’s not always easy to go through that journey alone.
I have been there, (Read More About my Story HERE), and made conscious efforts to learn how to use personal power effectively.
I’ve made it my mission to help people who are ready to connect with their Inner Self and step into their personal power.
If you’d like to learn more about my work and methodology, and you need more support, reach out, and book a free consultation, to see if we are a good fit to work together.
