How do we identify what we believe is harmful to us? We know that anything driving us negatively, causing us unhappy stresses and exhaustion feels harmful. If we just listen to the descriptive language coming out of our mouths daily, we will quickly begin to learn what decisions we've made about "how we believe it has to be."

Look at The Problem, Retrieve Your Power

"Accessing your power" means first looking at the problem area, the good the bad and the ugly, and then retrieving the innate power within yourself. This will allow you to either decide differently, or accept without condemning (placing a condescending judgment on) ourselves and others. When you do this, you accept yourself, and that is how you begin to understand what it means to have healthy self-esteem. You see it's not an arrogant state of mind. It is an accepting and approving state of mind. When you are this way with yourself, it will be easier for you to be so with all others who come into your world.

It is from this authentic powerful state that we go forth to be a wonderful
living example of what humanity can be.

If you look outward to make yourself feel worthy, valuable, lovable or safe in the world, by attempting to manipulate and control things, you are reaching for external power. For example, having beautiful clothes or a new car or a new set of skis or having your hair coifed in the newest, latest style, can all be ways we try to make ourselves feel better about ourselves. Note that the "props" are different for everyone. You can be wearing sandals and a T-shirt, and still be reaching for external power, if that image is what you use to try to control people to get your needs met or to make you feel worthy.

Authentic, Internal Power

But there is another kind of power. And that kind of power can be developed as you look inward to find the holes and the emptiness. Learn to fill it inside instead of reaching outside.

External power comes and goes. Your stock portfolio goes up in value and down. You can win an election or lose it. You can get a new car and be proud of it, and then it is just something that gets you from point A to point B. But you never lose authentic power. Why? Because when you are authentically empowered, you choose to be connected to the power of God that resides in you "24/7" and, in that, you forget to be frightened.

This week, think about the areas in your life where you feel powerless. What is one action you can take to LEARN something different?

Make it a GREAT week!

Mary