Have you taken a back seat so that someone else would shine? Do you make yourself “small” so that you won’t be seen as bragging or full of yourself? Modesty and humbleness are honourable qualities but when taken to extremes they limit you from realizing your greatest potential. While virtuous, these actions are examples of how you limit yourself for the sake of others and how you are not living your life to its fullest purpose.
Your life experiences influence how you use or don’t use your power. I have watched outwardly confident people sabotage themselves from getting something they want. It might be a new job, asking for a promotion, paying themselves, getting a new look, leaving someone or something, achieving a goal or taking a course. Their inner critic begins telling them why they can’t do these things. You’re not ready. You’re too busy. You don’t have enough money. What about your family? You don’t know enough. And on and on it goes. The inner critic is telling them they are not worthy or capable and that they don’t have the power to do it!
As if the inner critic were not enough, the external critics also appear. You have undoubtedly experienced times when you shared something new you have achieved in your life only to have it minimized or invalidated. The resulting feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy can go in so deeply that they stop you from moving forward – even today! And what about the times when you began to blossom, to show signs of success? The critics became even stronger.
- How will you manage?
- Are you sure you want to do this?
- You don’t have time for me?
- You can’t do all this by yourself. You’re showing off! Etc.
- The message is clear…. “Who do you think you are?”
When you embrace self-empowerment some people may feel threatened and will attempt to shut down your growth with judgmental comments to create self-doubt, uncertainty and fear. It’s often wrapped in being “nice” or “helping you see” or playing “devil’s advocate”. We’ve all been at the receiving and giving end of this! Through all of this, we must remember it is the ego that feels deflated or inflated.
Don’t confuse ego self with spirit and power. The body and mind are ego related and will try to take credit for your success and growth. Your self-image is ego based and not always reflective of truth. It’s not uncommon to create an intellectual, physical or emotional illusion of self-empowerment. Identifying your ego is easier when interpreted as “I think” or “I feel”. If you “think” then you are using your power to live with an ego illusion. Spirit is true power in acceptance, silence and truth. A quote from Deepak Chopra “The ability to think is an extraordinary human ability. The ability to not think is an even more extraordinary ability. Meditation is the ability to go beyond thought”.
How much of your energy do you used to acquire social acceptance, financial security, material possessions, physical well being, and the perfect self-image? Eventually a quiet inner voice will let you know something is missing, and when you listen carefully you understand your potentiality is waiting to expand. You realize you are not just a body or mind. You are a peaceful spirit with a body and mind, having a human experience. The power of spirit is infinite. How much of your energy are you using to nurture your spirit?
Harness your power by making a commitment to change yourself through awareness by listening to your inner voice of wisdom, your spirit. Don’t worry about your ego – it’s the ego that worries. Surround yourself with people whom you trust, who are truthful and encourage your growth without compromising their own.
Nurture your spirit and start doing things for yourself! Pursue the things you thought you couldn’t or weren’t allowed to do. Your purpose is to be true to yourself and to let yourself shine. When you do this you attract confident, supportive, honest, powerful people into your life who will share your journey.
Step into your power to create the life you want for yourself to realize your greatest potential. Let your spirit direct you and trust the process and remember you are never alone on your journey.
