EMPOWERMENT

When feelings flood my being and knock me off my feet I can either drown or learn to swim.  It’s easy to give in and to allow the waves of feeling to sweep me away wherever the tide might take me but then I end up feeling victimized and powerless.  Saying and doing things that I regret; I blame others for ‘making’ me feel this way and take no responsibility for my actions.  The payoffs for giving into helplessness are others may rush to fix me, trying to rescue me from the whirlpool of my emotions, making excuses for me and not allowing me to experience the consequences of my actions.  But, the choice of victimhood has high costs.
 

I no longer choose to pay those costs.  I will take responsibility for the challenges I face in this day.  True it may be scary to take risks, however, I will acknowledge my courage and learn the lessons I need to learn.  I will comfort and nurture myself when I fall short of the mark, get up and try again.  I will celebrate my successes and affirm my belief in myself.  I will listen to my feelings and recognize they are temporary experiences.  I will be curious about the stories I tell myself that create these feelings and notice when these stories are judgments and assumptions.  I will communicate my needs assertively without expectation.  I am in control of my life and choose a life of empowerment this day.