Many people shy away from the power word. In their minds, they conjure up the image of a bully or a business takeover, a victim and a victor. Power over others is not true personal power. Instead, it can cover-up feeling powerless.
Personal power doesn’t impose its will on others. It’s about standing up to you, knowing your own worth and recognizing your gifts. With personal power, you don’t brag or swagger. You feel good about you, despite the human flaws and foolish mistakes that you’ve made along the way. And more often than not, you can laugh at those mistakes and at yourself. Self Appreciation is the first valuable step to achieve personal power.
Self-Appreciation:
Know what you’re good at and develop a sense of personal pride and self-dignity. Valuing you and the wondrous miracle that you are, with all your emotions, a vast intellect, a body and mind that can self-regulate and heal is essential. Recognize the limitless potential inside you and your innate ability for growth, expansion and transformation.
I was a guest on a radio program and spoke about the many ways that we can practice self-appreciation. Treat yourself with the same respect you generate to others. So often, we demand the impossible of ourselves and build up an idea of perfection that’s impossible to reach. When we don’t meet our high expectations, we feel that we’ve failed. Realize that’s not failure at all. Would we do the same for a friend or a young child? Not really. Instead, we would encourage and cheer them on.
Honor you by taking personal time and caring for you on all levels: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Find activities and people that give you a sense of pleasure; add more meaning and value to your life. Be surrounded by people and situations that support and nurture you and be sure to do the same for them.
Self-appreciation doesn’t give you license to neglect others or be selfish. Living responsibly is about making a contribution, large or small. When we are empowered, we can be generous with our power and share it with others in service, kindness and compassion. When you do, you release a bounty of appreciation and community for you and others.
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