Self-Empowerment Defined

More than once in awhile, many of us feel helpless and demand control over our lives. Sure, who doesn't feel that way? If we go to a bookstore, there are many self-help and inspirational books that claim they can teach us to empower ourselves, to give us the power to control our own lives. Overnight.

Talk shows on television and success coaching sessions inspire us to do something worthwhile with our lives. We only live once, "so do it now or never," is the message we receive every time we turn on to Oprah talk show or read Gary Zukav's spiritual books.

Anyway, after a few hours of adrenaline boost, we often feel helpless again and are back to zero. You are not alone. Everybody experiences temporary low self-esteem. Though there is no instant cure, we progress over time. In general, however, there are several things we can do to stop sabotaging ourselves.

First things first, let's redefine the meaning of self-empowerment. Self-empowerment comes from one's innermost. One is said to have self-empowerment when he or she realizes and acknowledges that the authority to lead the journey of his or her own life is nobody else but him or herself. Nobody has full control of where the river of life takes him or her to, but one can always take control of the quality of gracefulness to project in the journey. Therefore, when you consciously choose to adopt this philosophy, you have already attained the first step to self-empowerment.

The quality of gracefulness one can project depends of how well he or she understands how a human being can make all the difference in the world. Be it in a micro or macro sense. As cited from Napoleon Hill in You Can Work Your Own Miracles, there are twelve great riches of life to practice:

1. a positive mental attitude

2. sound physical health

3. harmony in human relations

4. freedom from fear

5. the hope of future achievements

6. the capacity for faith

7. willingness to share one's blessings

8. a labor of love

9. an open mind of all subjects

10. self-discipline

11. the capacity to understand people

12. economic security

These twelve paths to personal riches are the blueprint of one's projection that can shape the quality of self-empowerment. Not many people realize that once we excel in one of them, the rest will follow. Work on what you're passionate about and excel in it. The economic security follows. Though nothing is an instant process, count on yourself and the power within you to make it happen.

Self-empowerment might be closer than you think. All you need to do is look around you and within you. It has been there all the time. Seek and you shall find. Work on your passion and you shall be rewarded.