Replies

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  Tiamacious April 22, 2013 at 5:20pm

  John, you already r original ;)
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  John Jancar April 22, 2013 at 2:29am

  Right now, on being original. It amazes me sometimes, how completely unoriginal most people are. Some people don't even have their own thoughts....just everything is taken from outside of them, someone else's thoughts, someone elses insights, someone elses perception and intelligence. Even someone elses research, and creativity. 

  Perfect example....how kids have these sayings. You know what I mean lol Oh that's "epic" lol He did that, "like a boss" lol That guy got "owned" lol Things like that. So many kids talk that way, it's amazing.

  There's way too much of a following mentality out there....even in this new age community. Like you'll hear people say, oh namaste....or, love and light xD I just can't talk that way, I just know it's not original, or authentic.

  Or another example....sometimes I make up my own words. And people will tell me, that's not a word. And I'll say.....well wait a minute, let's examine this here. What is a word. A word is something, someone, somewhere, decided was gonna be a word. Well I'm deciding right now, this is a new word, I just invented it lol And that's how it goes for any word, or catch phrase....someone, somewhere, said "what's up".....and it caught on, it became a global saying, part of the vernacular. Well maybe one of my words will become a global word one day....who's to say not. Who's to say, that's not a word, and that only already established words, can be words.

  I guess people like to attach themselves to things...people like fitting into something, and being part of what is. Me, I like to make something new. I'm a pioneer, an innovator, a creator. I lead....while others follow. I've always been that way, and I can't be any other way. And these are the type of people who really change history, and make history....and create civilization for everyone else, who just kind of follow along. I'm glad for that, I'm glad to be an original....with my own thoughts, my own insights, my own real independent research and creativity.
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  Tiamacious April 22, 2013 at 12:56am

  Nice sis ;)
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  Delilah7777 April 20, 2013 at 1:02am

  You inspired me to find this article  ;-)
  
  
  Created by: VIR - Voice in Recovery
  
  Empowered – Having been given the power to make choices relevant to one’s situation; Acting with confidence
  
  

  How do we empower others?

  • Refrain from doing anything that disempowers others. We do not want to reduce their energy and enthusiasm for what they are doing.
    
    
  • Show gratitude & appreciation
    
    
  • Acknowledge their success
    
    
  • Give attention – active, open, honest, receptive, engaging……notice key action words. It is a relationship
    
    
  • Communicate with respect
    
    
  • Ask questions
    
    
  • LIFE skills: Listen, inquire, focus, encourage
    
    
  • What are their vision, values, goals, passions, dreams?
    
    
  • Always be mindful of your voice: What are your words saying to those who you speak to?
    
    
  • Being an inspiration is another way to empower others.
    
    
  • Help develop SMART action steps (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timebound)
    
    
  • Instead of giving “advice” find ways to encourage and support people (by asking questions, asking what they need, etc)
    
    

  

  
  How do we empower ourselves?

  • When we empower others, we also empower ourselves, a wonderful cycle
    
    
  • Learning new tools and strategies to make choices that are in alignment with our values, vision, dream, recovery, sobriety, etc.
    
    
  • CHOICES – the knowledge that we can make choices in our life is empowering
    
    
  • Reign in the SHOULD monster: that voice in your head saying you should have done this or that
    
    
  • Similar to how we empower others: ask yourself what are your visions, values, goals, passions, dreams, etc.
    
    
  • Trust your gut: listen when you are doing something that just “feels” wrong
    
    
  • Know your boundaries with regards to everything in life: co-workers, friends, family, work load, etc. Know and state your boundaries
    
    
  • Never be afraid to ask for help, support or a hug!
    
    
  • Embrace your own authenticity: this is CRITICAL! You are amazing. You are an individual. No one is just like you.
  • Embrace Body Diversity for ALL: I say this because how we view others is often how we view ourselves. How we judge things outside of ourselves is often how we can self criticize ourselves.
    
    
  • Learn to find your own difference between your wants and needs; Do you know the difference? Have you written a list?
    
    
  • Get a life coach
    
    
  • Use the GROW process (Goals, reality, options, will do)
    
    
  • Integrate SMART action steps (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timebound)
    
    
  • Find what motivates you
    
    
  • Set your intentions daily
    
    
  • Write, express, communicate your gratefuls – this empowers not only ourselves, but appreciation empowers others as well
    
    
  • Make health a priority: Health in body, mind, and spirit. This can be through nutrition, exercise, therapy, coaching, chakra work, etc.
    
    

  I feel I have bitten off more than I can chew with this empowerment post. Each one of these sub-topics can in and of themselves be a blog post to further elaborate and not only give a general description, but actually have ideas, tools and ways to incorporate empowerment into our individual lives and recovery. I once read that productive employees and work environments have a few things in common: they implement the power of autonomy, personal accountability, mastery of work, self motivation, relatedness, and growth. What has been studied by motivational psychologists in the work place can be implemented into our lives and recovery!
  
  Read the whole article here