Do you half-ass your empowerment?

October 10, 2023

When it comes to empowerment, self-awareness, and self-improvement you can’t half-ass it. You must make a commitment to yourself. You can see a post, watch a video, and even read an entire book but if you don’t take action and be all in with it, then you will not get the results you want. And unless you go all in with your action on a consistent basis, then any results you attain will be fleeting. Self-improvement is a lifestyle. It’s a personal culture of continuous improvement for yourself, your children, and everyone in your circle.

Think about it this way, have you ever gotten a gym membership and went all in for the first few weeks, maybe even the first few months and just when you started to notice the results your fervor began to wane. You allowed life to get in the way, illness, an intense work project, kids sports seasons… and your excitement slowly deflated. The next thing you know it’s the holidays, and you’re more out of shape than when you started. With the new year around the corner, you decide to enjoy the holidays for all they’re worth and resolve to start anew come January. Year after year, the cycle continues.

But we aren’t talking about new year resolutions. We aren’t talking about gym memberships. We are talking about gaining a truly contented life. We are talking about your self-worth. There is no room for the ebb and flow of a healthy level of self-worth. This is your life, and you only get one.

Your children are watching you NOW. Remember when they were infants and toddlers and people at the grocery store or at some other public outing would say, “Oh enjoy it now because it all goes by so quick.” That was just yesterday! Right? Or at least it feels like it. Time stops for no one. Life is fleeting. You deserve the best, not just in ten years from now, today!

I encourage each and every one of you to go all in today. Right now. As soon as you are done reading this message, take immediate action. Your peace depends on it. Your children are depending on it. I know circumstances may not be favorable right now. You know what that means? That means, this is the BEST time to take action. First of all, you need it the most right now. Secondly, if you can take necessary action now, in the midst of all the negativity, despite the resistance you may get externally, then you can do it ANYTIME. There is no stopping you moving forward.

I know what it’s like to hold back or at least hide steps toward personal growth. I was afraid I would be ridiculed for it. My past had shown me that was a fair expectation of those around me. The fear of ridicule can be pretty persuasive in half-assing steps toward personal growth.

What if someone sees me meditating? What if someone hears me chanting? What if???

Answer your own worrisome question. What if someone sees you or hears you and then ridicules you? I bet you know the answer. Then they aren’t meant to be in your life, at least not in your immediate circle.

What if someone hears you speaking your positive affirmations aloud, and they ask what you are doing? There is the possibility that they are truly curious. Answer honestly. Prepare your answer in advance to avoid feeling put on the spot or caught off guard in the middle of your action steps.

What if your children overhear you or see you? Well, what better way to introduce them to self-healing and self-care techniques? Even if they are teenagers now, you show them that it’s never too late to start a journey of self-improvement. Leaders lead by example. Don’t hide. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t allow others to have so much power over you that you stunt your own progress. Notice what I said there? YOU stunt your own progress, not anyone on the outside… you. It is your choice to allow others to interfere with your progress, or not.

I encourage you to take a yoga mat to work and meditate for a few minutes on your lunch break or after a stressful phone call or email. Do it daily for a week to get over the fear of being interrupted. Do it daily for a month so it becomes a habit. Notice the effects as you go through your day, your week, your life.

Daily affirmations are so much more than words of encouragement for a fleeting moment. Daily affirmations are ACTION STEPS. Here’s how to go all in on your daily affirmations.

Start with a breathing exercise to connect with yourself on a deeper level. 

• Sit comfortably on a chair with your feet flat on the floor or in a meditation position.

• Close your eyes.

• Plug your ears by gently pressing your tragus (the cartilage) over the opening of your ear canals with your fingers.

• Breathe deeply and completely.

• Hum a single tone on the exhale noticing your sound and your vibration.

• Repeat for a total of 10 breaths.

Now you are ready to incorporate your daily affirmations.

• Remain in a seated position with your ears plugged.

• Breathe in deeply and completely and this time on the exhale say your affirmation. Hear yourself speak the words just as you heard the humming sound you made. Hear the words resonate within you the same as the vibration of the humming.

• Repeat your affirmation a minimum of five times.

Now stand in your personal power.

• Look at yourself in the mirror and speak your affirmation again to your reflection connecting with the sound of your voice and the vibration you feel as the words resonate deep within you.

• Repeat at least five times saying your affirmation to your reflection.