Empowerment. Sometimes the word empowerment makes me have this icky feeling because I fear when I say it others will think I mean we’re gonna burn bras, rally for equal rights, and shout ‘I am woman hear me roar’ from the rooftops. That is the furthest meaning of the word for me. Don’t get me wrong- I’m all about equal rights, and if burning your bra is your jam then I fully support you. But what does empowerment mean to me?
This morning I had a session with my mentor, and I felt the need to clarify how I feel about the word empowerment and the meaning behind it when spoken from my lips. I am truly a gentle soul. I have a softness about me and ability to bring a sense of calm to chaos. The word empowerment has a strong energy behind it and sometimes confuses me because my purpose in life is to help women feel empowered, but I do it with the softness that resides inside of me. So, today I am clarifying what the word is to me and how I want to ripple the strong and soft energy of empowerment throughout the world.
First, let’s look at what I feel disempowered is; when a person believes they are not good enough, not lovable, not smart enough, just not enough! When a person believes any non-truth about themselves, any ego-based thought, this is the exact opposite of empowered.
Empowered living: living from a place of knowing they are true beings of love in this world. They are enough just as they are now! That being human, making mistakes, not being perfect, it’s all enough. Empowerment is about believing in one’s Self, standing strong like a tree, knowing they are perfect just as they are, flaws and all. Empowerment means knowing these beautiful truths about one’s Self, standing firm in this knowing (this is where the strong energy of the word comes in), and moving through their lives and the world from this place.
So, in short, when a woman believes she is worthy, deserves to exist, to love and be loved, and there’s so much space for her in this world- this is empowered. When she can close her eyes, tap into this truth, this knowing of her own heart, move, speak and shift from this space- that is what empowered is to me. This is the path that I walk and a path I share with other women as they journey into finding their empowered living.
Empowerment: to make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.
Need I say more?
Calgary Canada Life Coach Arianne Moore, the founder of Path of Tranquility Coaching for Women, helps clients worldwide