I have spoken by phone and through emails to over a dozen people who are undergoing the process of really coming into their own “authenticity.” It seems that many of you are experiencing the peeling off of more layers from your onion; the layers of emotions that have been stored in your bodies: your cells, organs and memory. Learning to take back your power; setting boundaries and making your voice heard are all part of this experience. I am sure many of you who are reading this can relate to what I am saying.
Many of you have expressed that you want someone in your life to help you with this. Perhaps, ” the knight in shining white armor,” or that instant “quick fix?. The truth is that personal power comes from within and no one can do this work for you but yourself.
For many of you, how you feel about yourself developed from your family roots and parents. Society, culture and teachers have also imposed their pictures or expectations on you. They all laid the foundation with their actions and attitudes that were imposed on you. In answering questions like “Who Am I?”, “What is my purpose in life?”, “What can I do?” “What are my spiritual gifts?” you will find that they will catapult you into a new world of self discovery.
For most caregivers, the role encourages many to reach into the depths within themselves to find more meaning. Your thoughts and actions all show you who you currently are in this moment as a result of all the beliefs you have held that created the life experiences you are going through. This is a time for you to truly get in touch with your feelings; the feelings that you may have stuffed deep inside that you weren’t able to deal with. To the extent that you internalized all these beliefs, you will see that you have held back on living your life more fully. Your personal power has been limited.
Some of the feelings and issues you may be experiencing are:
- Doubting your own abilities
- Have a strong need to control or change others
- Never satisfied with your accomplishments or acheivements
- Feeling like you always have to prove yourself to others.
- Refuse to take risks.
- Puttin the power into material things for stability such as money, possessions and success
- Setting limitations on what you believe you can do
- Have power issues in your relationships with others
Awareness is 90% of the healing process you are undergoing. If you can begin to recognize and see how you have been leading your life until this very moment, you have the opportunity to choose to create it differently. You can reclaim your power. Power means, “to be able.? (Most think power means control over someone else.) Personal power is self-confidence, self worth and thoughtful use of your abilities. It is up to you to take responsibility to commit to healing yourself through nurturing and doing the inner work. Developing your independence and making choices to no longer blame yourself or others for your current situation, will give you the opportunity to adventure into a glorious journey that will manifest in a more joyful, healthful, peaceful and loving life that you will lead. You all have a powerful inner spirit that is waiting to be released, harnessed and empowered. As you free your spirit, you will find yourself creating all the things you have wanted for yourself.
Empowering Caregivers provides so many opportunities to nurture your body, mind, soul and spirit. It was a big risk to create a site based on this philosophy. When I first created the site, many people advised me to go the traditional way by terms of presenting material for caregiving that would be more acceptable and financially rewarding in the corporate world. Yet, my inner voice has guided me to support caregivers in this fashion. With understanding and the knowingness that we must each heal from within on our own, the articles I have written, the journal exercises and many of the contributing writers have offered support in this venue to nourish you with the information you need to empower yourselves..
Gail R. Mitchell
