Tips to Achieve Self-Empowerment

If you’re striving to attain personal empowerment, focus on your drive, identify what you can control, and keep an objective, goal-oriented mindset. The following seven tips can help you achieve self-empowerment.

Develop a Positive Attitude

People who believe they control their own destiny — rather than giving in to external concepts such as fate, luck, or circumstance — are more likely to take charge of their future. Cultivate a positive attitude and outlook by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses, pursuing your passions, and trusting in your ability.

Set Reasonable Goals

Measurable, achievable goals are an important component of self-empowerment, and understanding how to set them can help you feel good about your achievements. If you want to run a marathon, start with smaller, increasing distances rather than trying to run 26.2 miles on day one.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Laughter is contagious — and so are pessimism and negativity. Surrounding yourself with like-minded, motivated people can help you feel empowered to achieve your goals. If your self-esteem takes a blow, schedule time with positive friends, peers, and family members. Experiencing their positivity can improve your mental well-being, minimize your negativity, and empower you to follow your dreams.

Practice Self-Care

Self-care includes any activity that you do for yourself to feel happy and healthy. It can include everything from eating right and exercising to treating yourself to a spa treatment. Scheduling time to relax and rejuvenate will make you more productive. Additionally, being kind to yourself can help you be confident in your ability to address and overcome hardship.

Use Positive Self-Talk

To live a self-empowered life, focus on what you can do as opposed to what you can’t. For example, if you want to apply for a promotion that requires fluency in Spanish, instead of saying “I don’t speak Spanish,” try “I don’t speak Spanish yet. I can learn.” Practicing self-affirmations and displaying confidence in your ability to achieve your goals can help you take steps to achieve them.

Be Assertive

People who strive toward personal empowerment must be comfortable expressing their thoughts, ideas, and needs. If you’re invited to a party but have an important presentation the following day, let the host know you’ll be leaving early to prepare. Or if you and a co-worker are collaborating on a project, but you’re doing most of the work, don’t feel guilty about addressing the situation head-on and asking them to do their share.

Create an Action List

Empowered people take action, exhibit a growth mindset, and are comfortable learning and developing their abilities. They also understand that success does not come overnight but is a culmination of decisions and actions. If your goal is to finish your college degree within four years, list the actions you’ll need to take to achieve that goal, such as researching financial aid options, enrolling in an online program, and establishing a study schedule.

Pull out your journal and Define:

• 1-2 goals in the next 3-6 months.
• 1-2 goals you want to complete in this year?
• 1-2 goals you want to complete in the next 4 years.

Choose a person in the circle to hold you accountable.