Empowerment is what allows us to take control of our lives. As a state of mind, it helps us to make positive changes. Empowerment refers to a state of mind of enabling you to gain control, authority, and confidence over your own life. This includes having control, as much as possible, over your circumstances and decision-making.
And while it may seem simple enough, to want the best for yourself, there are often mental hurdles preventing us from getting here. Not everyone feels empowered and it becomes evident when they live below their potential.
Having a constant state of mind that's empowering means you'll be provided with the tools, resources, knowledge, and support necessary to take charge of your own actions and make choices that align with your values and goals. As a multi-dimensional concept, empowerment can affect different aspects of your life.
For instance, there is social, personal, political, and economic empowerment. True empowerment means being balanced and aligned in each of those areas. It encourages you to be participatory and develop the skills needed to serve you and your community well.
What Does Tt Mean to Feel Empowered?
Empowerment comes from learning ways to help you feel empowered.
When you're empowered, you experience a sense of personal strength, confidence, and control over your own life and circumstances. Your state of being allows you to believe in your abilities and feel more confident when you demonstrate those abilities.
If you don't feel empowered, you may feel helpless, like you're unable to exert control or influence over your circumstances, decisions, or outcomes.
These feelings often stem from a combination of external factors and internal struggles, leading to a deep sense of frustration and even despair. That's why finding ways to feel empowered is so important for your overall well-being.
When you find ways to feel empowered, you'll have a positive self-image and feel capable of taking action to achieve your goals. When you've discovered how to feel empowered in life, you'll likely make choices that align with your personal values.
As you practice empowerment, you'll find that you have a strong sense of self-efficacy and believe in yourself. You'll have the capacity to overcome challenges and obstacles that you may not have had before.
They have a greater belief in their own potential and are more likely to take initiative, make decisions, and assert themselves in various aspects of life.
The Benefits of Feeling Empowered
Learning how to feel empowered is important because it enhances your well-being, motivation, and overall life satisfaction. It enables you to follow your aspirations, advocate for yourself and others, and navigate challenges with resilience.
Once you've mastered empowerment, it can have a transformative effect on your personal growth and relationships. Plus, when you feel empowered, you are more likely to contribute positively to your community and make a meaningful impact.
So, you see, feeling more empowered will give you more confidence, which helps you not to feel afraid when you're facing tough decisions or adversity. It also provides the motivation you need to pursue your goals and, often, to achieve them.
Fix your mind on being empowered, and you'll notice your obstacles are easier to face head-on.
15 Simple Ways to Feel More Empowered in Life
We think you'll agree that the following are simple and practical ways to help you feel more empowered. Each are both valuable and highly achievable.
1. Define Your Values
Empowerment comes when you clarify your core values and beliefs. If you live in alignment with your values, you feel a sense of purpose and authenticity, which enhances your self-confidence.
When you think of defining them, realize that your core values are fundamental beliefs that guide and shape your behavior, decisions, and attitudes. These values represent what is important and meaningful to you, serving as a moral compass and influencing your actions and choices.
2. Practice Gratitude
When you adopt an attitude of gratitude, focus on the positive aspects of your life.
It's important to regularly express gratitude for the people, experiences, and opportunities that have contributed to your growth and empowerment. But gratitude goes way beyond simply saying “thank you”.
It involves cultivating a broader sense of appreciation as a way of perceiving and interpreting the world around you. Practicing gratitude will give you a mindset that identifies the positive aspects of life, even when challenges or difficulties come your way.
3. Set Meaningful Goals
A good way to feel empowered is to establish clear, realistic goals that align closely with your values. Once you've done that, break them down into smaller, manageable steps to stay motivated and maintain a sense of accomplishment.
Have you heard of S.M.A.R.T. goals? Taking each goal you set and making sure it's “smart” will help to make sure your goals are meaningful. Ensure each goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound. You can find out more in this article.
4. Cultivate Compassion for Yourself
Sometimes we find it's easier to have kindness and understanding for others than it is to have them for ourselves. When you embrace self-care practices and learn to forgive yourself for past mistakes, you're stepping toward empowerment.
You can love yourself without being a selfish individual. Self-compassion means doing what's best for you and making the most of your achievements for the benefit of you and society. Plus, it boosts your self-esteem and resilience.
5. Use Positive Self-talk
Feeling empowered is often dependent on replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Take the time each day to encourage and support yourself through uplifting and empowering words. You can find positive affirmations online to help you get started.
Once you've established a habit of positive self-talk, you may find you're creating positive affirmations of your own.
We encourage you to speak the words audibly rather than just reading them as this will help you to better believe in your abilities and potential.
6. Give Back to Others
There are many opportunities to volunteer or engage in acts of kindness that benefit others. When you participate in these activities, you'll find you feel empowered.
Contributing to the well-being of others fosters a sense of purpose and fulfillment. This enhances your own personal empowerment.
7. Surround Yourself with People who are Positive
A great way to feel empowered is to surround yourself with people who uplift and inspire you. This will help feed your soul. When you build a supportive network of friends, mentors, and like-minded individuals who share your values and aspirations, you'll find yourself empowered each time you're with them.
If you aren't sure how to meet like-minded individuals, you may want to look no further than your local places of worship or civic organizations in your community. Another good start is to connect with those who volunteer in the organizations where you donate your time.
8. Take Good Care of Your Body
Working out is worth more than just making you look good. When you engage in regular exercise, it increases your energy and provides self-confidence. Add eating a nutritious diet and prioritizing sleep, and you'll be well on your way to feeling empowered.
Taking care of your physical body helps you to feel that you are more in control of your life. Physical well-being will enhance your energy levels and self-confidence and give you an overall sense of empowerment.
9. Celebrate Your Personal and Professional Achievements
When you acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small, you'll feel a sense of achievement. This leads to feeling empowered in whatever area of your life you're creating success.
[Check out our article about the science of accomplishment, which will help you develop the skills of accomplishment and identify motivational skills.]
Be sure to recognize your progress and give yourself credit for the hard work and effort you put into achieving your goals. Make it a habit, and you'll discover how to feel empowered.
10. Learn from Failures
We think you'll agree that no one enjoys failure, and sometimes it's difficult to make failure a positive experience. Just know that when you want to feel empowered, you can experience that even in times of failure.
Embracing failure as a learning opportunity will help you to see it differently, as a steppingstone toward your success.
It's best to reframe setbacks as a part of your life's journey toward growth and improvement. Make sure you analyze what went wrong, extract the lessons, and then use them to fuel your future success.
11. Embrace Self-care
A good way to feel empowered is to prioritize self-care activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Think about activities you enjoy that distress, such as taking a long bath, practicing meditation, or taking some time to participate in your favorite hobby.
Self-care activities will enhance your well-being and empower you to prioritize your needs. When your life is well-balanced, you'll feel more in control.
12. Developing New Skills
Have you ever noticed a feeling of empowerment when you've learned something new? When you continuously expand your knowledge and develop new skills, you'll expand your feelings of empowerment.
A good way to do this is to seek opportunities for both personal and professional growth. You can read articles like this one or read self-help books to find help to guide you toward bettering your skills and gaining knowledge.
Other ways are through taking courses or workshops. When you acquire new skills, you'll boost your self-confidence and empower yourself to take on new challenges.
13. Don't Be Afraid to Take Risks
While taking unnecessary risks may seem counter-productive to empowerment, taking calculated risks can help you reach your full potential.
Notice what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. Be purposeful about staying open to new experiences and opportunities.
When you regularly take risks, you'll enjoy a sense of empowerment. Risk-taking fosters personal growth.
14. Be Assertive
Assertiveness is a skill that will take you some time and practice to develop. Just be patient with yourself and realize that once you master it, you'll feel a sense of empowerment. And be sure to celebrate your progress along the way.
As you embrace your personal power, you'll notice the small steps you take towards asserting yourself in various aspects of your life. Learning to express your needs, desires, and boundaries in a clear and respectful manner will make your life less stressful.
When you stand up for yourself, you'll maintain healthy relationships and cultivate a sense of empowerment.
15. Embrace Life Lessons
As you probably realize, life is not always easy. The best we can do is learn from the choices we make and the circumstances that are beyond our control and tap into our true power. When you do this, you'll feel empowered rather than shut down by trying times.
When you embrace and learn from life lessons, you can transform challenges into opportunities that will empower you toward a more fulfilling life journey.
Final Thoughts on How to Feel Empowered
Have you finished reading and find yourself thinking, “I can do this!”?
Feeling empowered will serve you well throughout your life. Empowerment is a powerful tool, certainly more preferable than feeling like you have no control over your life and circumstances.
If you're feeling powerless, remember that it's a temporary state, and it does not define your entire existence. Life is a series of ups and downs, and that's why it's important to arm yourself with these ways to feel empowered.
Although life may feel overwhelming at times, you always have the potential to change and grow when you empower yourself. Empowerment is about taking control of your life. When you do that, you can embrace your true potential.
By taking action and incorporating these 15 practices into your daily routine, you can create and nurture a sense of empowerment that will fuel your personal and professional growth.
You'll find you get a boost to your self-confidence and the strength to navigate life's challenges with resilience and determination. Remember, you alone have the power to create the life you love.
And if you're looking for more articles about personal growth, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 7 Steps to Live a More Purposeful Life
- 45 Empowering Songs to Motivate and Uplift You
- 8 Intentional Living Strategies to Follow Your Values
