Where to Now?

Empowerment is the ability to determine your own life. It requires a mind-set that is able to recover from a failed relationship, loss of property and friends, or a disappointment regarding a promotion. Such a mind-set views such events as a temporary set back and possibly a blessing in disguise; or at the very least, a learning opportunity. It's the ability to see the opportunity in most, if not all, of the events that happen in our lives.

I have a dear friend who has been struggling with the direction in her life. She is extrememly talented, healthy, and has several close friends. She is about to move to a new city and was very low on money. Several months ago she saw little purpose or justice in the world. She was also depressed about the situation in New Orleans because she had lived there. In spite of these circumstances, she prevailed, taking one day at a time. She refused to give up. Then, out of the blue, new business opportunities came to her. She has recovered a direction and a purpose for her life. The point is that when we are willing to prevail in our own behalf, unforeseen events quite often come to our aid.

This way of thinking is based on taking responsiblity for your life; most of all, in unfair or unpredictable situations. Responsibility is the willingness (not ability) to view yourself as the principal source of whatever happens in your life! Take a measure of what principal source is for you in the present way you live. Is it 50%, 80%, 90%, or for some few, 100%? How would your life change if you expanded your mind-set by 10% or 20%? Remember, where self-responsibility is concerned, we are our only limitation!

A resource for learning more about this way of thinking are the books Realizations and Empowerment for High-Performing Organizations available on the website bookstore www.innovint.com