Do you feel EMPOWERED?

Photo credit - Kevin Fitzgerald , Unsplash

Today I realised that the most profound change for me, since completing my Grief Recovery Method (GRM) journey is EMPOWERMENT.

It was during and after the GRM I became truly empowered for the first time in my life (I'm 55 so that's far too many decades (professionally and personally) of not feeling an equal, or not feeling as important as others. Or too many years of not feeling confident enough to voice my opinion or to voice my feelings).

This was such a life-changing discovery. I 'found my voice' and I was 'heard'. And the same is true for my clients; they find their voice; by sharing their experiences & emotions and by being 100% heard.

So I wondered what does empowerment mean to you?

Do you feel empowered?

If yes, how?

If no, do you know why you don't feel empowered?

The Cambridge Dictionary definition of empowerment is:

'the process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you'.

Empowerment can also mean:

• When people are empowered the power is with the person and not the professionals or services.You can’t empower someone else or make someone empowered. It is about ways of working and supporting someone that means they can take control and responsibility for their own lives.

• People seek and receive the support they need that they feel is right for them.

• Empowerment means we are all equal citizens. And we are respected and confident in our communities. People’s experiences and feelings will be valued and they will be listened to and respected.

The new empowered me can say No. I can say Yes. I know my thoughts and opinions are valid. I know that I deserve respect. I know I deserve to be heard.

What would the new empowered you say or do?