by Michele Gunn
I know first-hand, through my own lived experiences, about the power of self-empowerment in alignment with God’s purpose. In my childhood years, I often felt unloved and unvalued. Those feelings began with me and in me. No one should feel that way because every person has their own individual value that the world needs.
Here I will focus on self-affirmations, positivity, self-awareness, and self-confidence. Know that empowerment starts with understanding and valuing yourself as God’s creation. You were uniquely created to fulfill a specific purpose. There is no one else like you.
There are many ways to get to know yourself and you can start at any age! Since society, beginning with our families, often tells us who to be, we often lose our true self. Start with positive self-affirmations. These are not just words; they are declarations of truth.
The Power of Self-Affirmations
Self-affirmations are truths about who you are. Don’t confuse them with how you help people. They are truly who you are even when you are not providing something to someone else. Self-affirmations can play
a foundational role in building your confidence and resilience.
You can utilize faith-based affirmations, such as “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), or dig deeper for something even more personal. I recommend thinking of three words that describe you. If you are having difficulty, ask friends, family and colleagues. Choose what resonates well with you. Create a habit of daily affirmations to replace negative self-talk. Start each morning and end each day with verbal (out loud) affirmation statements. “I am (strong, kind, beautiful, smart, fearless, etc).” Say them out loud and in front of a mirror, looking yourself in the eyes. Say them with conviction. Say them so you believe them.
Cultivating Positivity
What you think will be, is what often happens. Where your feelings dwell will be what you radiate. It is important to focus on the good, even in challenges. When you are focused on the negative, you miss out on the positive. Sadly, we are taught to spend more time thinking about what is wrong and what can be fixed than what is good and what should be celebrated.
Positivity aligns with gratitude. Practice gratitude to maintain a focus on the positive. Utilize gratitude journaling. Practice reframing your negative thoughts. Surround yourself with supportive people.
Knowing Yourself
Self-awareness and self-reflection are important to understand your strengths and values. Another quick step to knowing self (and even receiving affirmation of who you are) is through assessments. I can
recommend CliftonStrengths, Hessel Church Spiritual Gifts and/or Kolbe. These will provide a great foundation to start with. Journaling, prayer, and quiet time to reflect are also great tools to use. Self-
awareness leads to confidence, belief in one’s abilities, and clarity in purpose.
Embrace Your Authentic Self
Remember that true empowerment comes from aligning who you were created to be, embracing your worth and sharing your value in an altruistic way. Create a plan for how to build self-confidence, if needed.
Start with self-affirmations. Create daily steps to truly get to know the authentic you, including your gifts and talents (not just what you are good at). Envision what you desire your life to be! You can start small,
but stay consistent in your efforts.
I challenge you to step boldly into who you were created to be and to align your life with who you authentically are!
Connect with Michele
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