Education for Empowerment

Such a long time since posting but I’m determined to be more consistent. Part of the problem for me, I think, is that feeling that other people don’t necessarily want or need to hear others’ thoughts or even advice.
I’m always conscious of the movie quote that states “The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room” and coupled with an in-built sense of ‘imposter syndrome’ tend to feel reluctant to share too much.  Fighting, somewhat reluctantly, to have your voice heard can be one of the many reasons why a writer or speaker may feel inhibited.

However, when we are given compliments or told positive things about ourselves and the way in which we act, we should listen more and build upon these strengths.  We remember when people are negative towards us or when we make a mistake.  That stays with us for a length of time. Do the positives stay in our minds for the same amount of time? Probably not. And they should because that is where our focus for leading a more fulfilled and confident life should lie. 

What are your strengths? What do other people see in you that helps them or enables them to feel good? Is your self-awareness at a point where you could identify what it is that makes you feel energised or positive in any given situation?  What motivates or drives you when you wake up, or walk into a room, or plan for a specific event? I enjoy listening to others. I’m told that’s a real strength of mine and that I have an empathic viewpoint that enables me to see how people are affected or driven by events. I try to embrace this and use this aspect of my personality as a focus for how I live my life as a I seek equality and justice in the world around me.

Ask those that you are close to, at home or work, where they feel your strengths lie within your personality. Do you listen well, are you calm in a pressured situation, are you dynamic or forward-thinking? In a relationship that is built upon trust and reciprocity we can have these conversations to help us to identify what our drivers are and what may feed into our confidence.  Embrace this and use this knowledge to help you to move forward with a sense of purpose and clarity. 

This doesn’t mean we ignore those areas of greater discomfort in our personality or shy away from mistakes that we have made. It just means that we prioritise the positives and strengths that we are aware of, as they are what will ultimately allow us to grow and develop in a meaningful and personal way. ❤️🌈