Self-Empowerment: Disengage From Other People’s Opinions
Each one of us has fallen into the pit of letting other people’s opinions influence our thoughts and choices at one point or another. Many of us learn to “fit in” in primary school, often ignoring what we truly want because it doesn’t align with what others say. It’s human nature to want to be accepted.
Sometimes the inauthenticity is demonstrated when we fail to pursue our desired career, mistakenly not speaking up for ourselves or not staying true to our values with the hope of receiving favour from our boss and, perhaps, even a promotion along with their approval.
Whatever the cause, forfeiting your power can leave you adrift in an ocean of uncertainty and unhappiness. The way to eliminate that feeling is to achieve self-empowerment. This allows you to take control of your thoughts and disregard what others have to say.
The Language of Empowerment
Taking notice of your internal dialogue is essential when trying to develop self-empowerment. Often, the dialogue in our minds isn’t our own. We frequently repeat to ourselves what others have told us, especially those we care for the most.
Parents, bosses, and even friends can create internal dialogue for us if we allow their words to hold more power than our self-esteem. Setting up your own dialogue about yourself is empowering because you decide who you are and what words describe you rather than allowing others to define you.
Always use positive language and only listen to thoughtful criticism. If something is rude or unnecessary, let it be just that: unnecessary. Don’t allow it to seep into your thoughts. Another important aspect is using positive active language. For example, if you need to learn a new computer program, do not say, “I can’t do this.” Instead, “I will learn this” or “I can study this” will provide a sense of ability and optimism.
Other Ways to Boost Self-Empowerment
While internal language will be your primary path to disengaging from others’ opinions, there are other things to work on to be successful.
- Learning how to be kind to yourself is vital to self-empowerment. We should always give ourselves grace.
- Let go of negativity and toxicity – this could be in the form of a person, a job, or a habit. Anything that may stunt forward progress should be gotten rid of.
- Take time for self-care – this may look like a bubble bath, meditation, or anything that makes you feel rejuvenated. Feeling your best allows you to be more productive.
- Develop skills. This might look like taking a course on a new computer application, doing a conflict resolution exercise, or practising using initiative in the workplace.
- Journaling. Putting your thoughts down on paper lets you look at them more objectively. It’s easier to identify thoughts that others have injected into your mind when looking at them retrospectively.
- Find affirmations that reflect your values and intentions. When you choose the words you want to think about and repeat them to yourself, there is less space to allow for the opinions of others.
Confidence is critical when developing self-empowerment. When you are confident in yourself, the opinions of others are easy to brush off. Identifying the thoughts you want to believe and then doing the footwork to succeed will propel you forward and instil positive feelings about yourself.
Letting others weigh in on your life often proves to set limits on what you think you can do. Be resilient and persistent, and recognise that you will feel empowered when your thoughts and actions take you closer to your authentic self.
