Athletes, movie stars, debutantes, politicians. We live in a celebrity culture where names and faces repeatedly grab the headlines, often as a distraction from more important news. An interesting poll was taken recently of young people who were asked what profession they would love to have. The majority responded by saying “working for a celebrity,” to be near the excitement. They might want to aim their sights a littler higher, in fact, much higher. In stress management circles, there is an expression we use that states: “Don’t give your power away.” It means that rather than focusing on the importance or notoriety of others, take time to cultivate your highest potential. Giving your power away goes well beyond celebrities. People often give their power away when angry, giving credence to the expression, “He who angers you, conquers you.” Empowerment is a component of self-esteem. Empowerment is the cultivation of your inner resources to accomplish personal goals and reach for the stars (rather than reading about others who did themselves.) Empowerment, as a stress management skill, is in short supply these days because people eagerly give it away. Learn a lesson from the wisdom keepers…don’t give your power away.
Stress Tip of the Day:
Are you someone who gives your power away? How many of your conversations center around the lifestyles of celebrities? How much of your time and energy is focused on professional sports or the Hollywood elite? Polititicans even.? Spending time with tabloids and talk shows might be entertaining, but are you giving your power away to the celebrity culture? Does your self-esteem need a booster shot? Time to take stock of your life and redirect your energies inward. It’s time to step up to meet your highest potential. It’s time to reclaim your personal power and use it accordingly. The world needs heroes, not celebrities.
Links/Books/Movies Worth Noting:
Her are a few links about the topic of empowerment:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowerment
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/empower.htm
Quote of the Day:
“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.”— Mahatma Gandhi
Photo of the Day:
The “Rocky pose” is the pose of victory, success, empowerment. It is the moment of euphoria when a goal is achieved. This truly is empowerment. I caught this moment while doing some winter hiking with a friend recently …. Enjoy!
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned expert in the fields of stress management, mind-body-spirit healing and stress and human spirituality. He is the author of over 10 books including the bestsellers, Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, The Art of Calm, Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart and Managing Stress (6E). He can be reached through his website:www.brianlukeseaward.net
© Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.
Yes, I believe that we often learn the hard way that when you give your love away, you also give away your love for yourself. Love is an energy that wells up inside us every day, and when we attach that love to one other person, others or even random others, and not to ourselves, we lose ourselves in the process.
We can love one other special person, special others and even random others, with different kinds of love, but we must keep special love attached to ourselves, or else our loved ones or even random others, have the power to do whatever they choose if we do not do as they desire, exactly. With our love attached to random others, for example, we are in a precarious situation. Do as they please, or else your self-love will be destroyed. I will NEVER do that again.