9 Things To Do to Become More Empowered

As I talk to groups and work with individuals, I hear similar themes over and over again. So often people think they are the only ones who can’t keep it all together, which leads to shame, disappointment and a lack of confidence. Going through your days with these qualities leading the way, doesn’t usually result in living a fulfilling, empowered life.First, I want you to know you are not alone. Life is complicated. It’s overwhelming. And it’s  nearly impossible to keep everything together all of the time. But despite this, it is possible to live a simple, joy-filled life. I do it (most days) and I’ve witnessed numerous others who are doing it do, too. And I know you can too, if you really want to.Now that we’re clear on this, I want you to think about how you show up in life. If shame, disappointment or a lack of confidence is lurking anywhere in there, then it’s time to change that. It’s time to start living a more empowered life.Here are 9 things to do to become more empowered:

1. Take a CPR Certification course - You’ll learn how to save a life. Even if you never have to use what you learn, you’ll feel confident knowing you have the skills if you have to.
2. Take a self-defense class - How often do you get to kick, scream, punch and takedown other people? This is another one that I hope you never have to use, but if you do, you’ll be so glad you took the class.
3. Climb a mountain (it doesn’t have to be big!) - I love the outdoors but I’m not an avid hiker. But when we decided to climb a mountain with friends who were visiting, it ended up being such a gratifying experience. Despite taking a wrong turn and going the long way, looking down at where we came from and taking in the magnificent 360 degree view from the top made it ALL worth it.
4. Walk or run a race - I’m not a runner, but I’ve found such fulfillment walking in races for causes that I believe in. I’ve also stood at the finish line of marathons and wow, if you want to be inspired and witness people giving it their all, there is nothing like seeing dedicated men and women, young and old cross that finish line. Watching them makes me want to take on big challenges.
5. Do yoga on a paddleboard - This is one I was very hesitant to do. But one time out and I was addicted. I had done yoga for a while before this, but never thought I’d be able to pull off a down dog while floating on water, but I did! I now love paddle boarding and I encourage everyone to try it!
6. Travel alone - Companionship is one of my top values, so naturally, I like to be with other people, especially when I travel. But in the times I’ve had to travel alone, it’s definitely been confidence-boosting.
7. Fix something with power tools - Truth be told, I’m usually the one that breaks things and my husband is usually the one that fixes them. But the few times I’ve taken ownership and tackled the project by myself, it’s been very satisfying to finish the job and be able to say, “I fixed it!”
8. Negotiate a purchase of something significant - Most of the large purchases I’ve made have been jointly with someone else. But the times it’s just been me doing the negotiating and then getting what I wanted for the price I wanted, it’s been incredibly empowering.
9. Navigate a new city without pre-planning - One of my favorite things to do is to plan travel, but there have been times that I simply wasn’t able to get to it in advance. Spontaneity is not something I thrive on, but in the instances I’ve had to figure out where to go and how to get there, it’s ended up being a fun adventure, despite taking some wrong turns along the way.

I challenge you to try a few (or all) of the things on this list. Note how you are feeling before doing each item then note how you feel right after it. What do you discover?After doing each one of the things on this list, I felt strong, confident and unstoppable. I learned something new about myself each time, I felt like I could move forward and make the changes that I needed to in my life and I was empowered to handle whatever came at me next.What empowers you?To Simplicity & Joy,Lisa