As we are in the beginning days of celebrating Women’s History Month, I want to share how being yourself and accepting yourself for who you are plays a large part in your empowerment and empowering others.
It is hard to empower others and even support them when you lack self-confidence. Owning your empowerment means that you possess confidence about yourself. Empowerment is “the process of becoming more stronger and confident.” I’ve heard people ask a general question, “do you know who you are?” For some, they could automatically say yes I know who I am. For others, they may not be able to answer so frankly. Let me tell you a little secret that’s really not a secret. You actually do know who you are because God has already told you. It’s written in his word. The only thing you need to do is believe it. I think about all the women who may not know who they are in Christ and may not be confident enough to do the things that they are inspired to do. It’s a process and all of our paths are different. Start where you are and allow God to grow the rest.
I recently read a book that I am actually re-reading again because it was that good and life-changing for me. It honestly has changed my life for the better because it was so inspiring and it humbled me to another level of gratitude. It is called When Women Pray by T.D. Jakes. While reading this book, from the very beginning I was able to relate to these women. The book contain stories from different women which are in the Bible. It wasn’t the actual trial or problem that they were going through that I was able to relate to, it was the strength, and the courage, and the un-relentless passion that they had to not give up. Have you ever gone through any hardship and no matter what, you knew that the only answer to that problem was God and because God’s rescue would be your only answer you would rather wait on his complete deliverance than a short-term solution? Each woman had their own problem they were facing but in the end, they either were delivered, blessed, healed, or overcame the problem they were challenged with. This only occurred simply because they were confident in God’s promises for their life. Now, as much as I would like to go into more detail with a summation of the book, it would do a bigger justice for you to read it yourself and I can say that if it blessed me the way that it has, I can imagine what it will do for you. So I admonish you to own a copy. These women were empowered to keep going, keep believing no matter the downfall, no matter the sacrifice.
Once you become confident in the believe of who God says you are then there is no going back to a mediocre lifestyle and way of thinking, because you realize your self-worth, you realize your authority in your own empowerment. There are some people walking around not knowing how to be empowered or not knowing what to do with the authority they have, simply because they don’t realize their potential and there are those who have the authority and abuse that authority because they realize the infinite possibilities of their potentials indeed. I digress, being empowered gives you the authority to command things in your life that you otherwise lacked the realization of doing. How abstract is that?
When you are empowered, it’s easy for you to support others, regardless if it’s behind the scenes or in front of the crowd. When you empower others, you are giving to someone else what they may not have had before, like courage and inspiration. You are giving to them the very thing you once needed, a helping hand, an encouraging word, a chance and even, perhaps an unknowing confirmation.
I’ve realized that when you begin to accept yourself, faults and all, it begins to get much easier to walk in self-confidence. You become happy and you gain freedom. When you accept yourself, your skills, your talent, your God-given favor, then you are free to walk the path God is leading you. There is beauty in that. There is security in that. There is life in that.
When you were created by God, he only made one of you. Not only did he make one of you, he made you with your own mind, thoughts, talents, and gifts. How special is that? That makes you very special. In fact, most people possess a skill or a talent that they will never tap into simply because it’s easier to do what other’s do or because they are too afraid to take a risk. Might I tell you something, “don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try.” – Michael Jordan
When you gain your empowerment, take an opportunity to let someone know who has been an instrumental light in your life how much they mean to you. Take an opportunity to own how great you are. Take an opportunity in the pleasure of going after your dreams and the liberty you have with all the possibilities around you. Take an opportunity to help bring the next person up behind you.
…until next time my friends.