Claiming Your Personal POWER
Published on 21 Nov 2007 at 8:21 am.
13 Comments.
Filed under Personal Development Strategies, Spirituality & Inspiration.
A few weeks ago my blogging pal Donna Karlin posted an OnGrowing Weekly Challenge asking folks to write about how they give their power away to people, situations and things and asked how power can be reclaimed.
She writes, “I maintain that the gap between where you are and where you want to be is filled by what you choose to do in the time available to you; every conversation, thought, choice and decision.
We can either blame someone else for our shortfallings, our level of success, our happiness or anything else you can think of but bottom line is, when we give the power of our destiny in whatever realm to someone else, we are choosing to give up control of our lives.”
She took the words right out of my mouth!
As a coach and speaker, I consistently talk about how we expend countless amounts of energy, time and personal power to please other people, live up to their expectations, and keep the peace at the expense of our well-being, happiness, and success.
Here’s one example of how I give my POWER away:
Several years ago I turned my attention to one of my core values - authenticity. What that means to me is showing up in all areas of my life by being genuine and real; being congruent in my feelings, thoughts, and actions. I’ve been on a spiritual journey since the early 1980’s and looking deeply at myself has been a work in progress. After all, how can I be truly effective in helping others if I’m not walking my talk too!
I have come to recognize that one of the ways I still give my power away to others is when I lapse into my old pattern of making comparisons. I usually slip when I have been too overextended and depleted. My self-esteem slides a bit and I am not at my best. That’s a good signal to me that I’ve gotten into my “drama and negative stories.” (which is another way I give my power away to my imaginings!). Taking a break, adding some self-nurturing activities and feeling gratitude helps me to bring my attention back to the present. Focusing on what is real and true empowers me to reclaim my power and “come back home to myself”. When I’m at my best, feeling strong and replenished, I’m able to celebrate my own uniqueness while appreciating others.
It’s a process and an ongoing journey! One I highly recommend too.
To continue this conversation I’m tagging:
Tristan Loo
Lola Fayemi
Gamy Rachel
Alex Blackwell
Priscilla Palmer
PS: I love the synchronicity of things because her challenge came on the heels of the release of my new eBook: 9 Keys to Claim Your Personal POWER. It’s an eCourse style format to help you shift from powerless to powerfull.
Have a terrific day claiming your POWER! 
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Gamy Rachel on 21 Nov 2007 at 9:34 am: 1
Hee hee..who is Gamy Rachel?
Don’t think I know her
lorraine on 21 Nov 2007 at 1:52 pm: 2
Might be an alter ego?
Gamy Rachel on 21 Nov 2007 at 6:34 pm: 3
Oh yes, you are right Lorraine,
how could I not know.
No wonder you are a coach
Respectfully
Gamy
lorraine on 21 Nov 2007 at 6:37 pm: 4
LOL Gamy
Gamy Rachel on 21 Nov 2007 at 7:28 pm: 5
Yes, it’s done Lorraine. The post is up
http://www.mindthinksuccess.com/brainwave-technology/mind-the-5
I have included Yours and Donna Karlin’s
backlink at this post.
Thanks again for including me, nice to play with you.
Blessed Thanks giving day
Gamy
Mind The 5 | Mind Think Success on 21 Nov 2007 at 7:30 pm: 6
[...] Dr Lorraine Cohen also tagged me for Donna Karlin’s Claiming Your Personal Power meme Thank you once again for [...]
lorraine on 21 Nov 2007 at 7:52 pm: 7
Thanks for playing Gamy
Your article is great.
Have a fabulous holiday
Cheers,
Lorraine
Tina Su - Think Simple. Be Decisive. on 22 Nov 2007 at 7:01 am: 8
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Love & Gratitude,
Tina
Think Simple. Be Decisive.
~ Clarity & Happiness
lorraine on 22 Nov 2007 at 8:44 am: 9
Feel free to jump in Tina
I was about to tag you and invite you to share your thoughts!
Cheers,
Lorraine
Pamir on 22 Nov 2007 at 9:35 am: 10
Ah the reclamation of power, one of the core self-development & healing principles. When power is drained away you’re like a house with 5 refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines & dryers, instead of one each. All that power goes into running a surplus which has nothing to do with where you need your power in the moment. Unplug & cycle it back into your being & life!
lorraine on 22 Nov 2007 at 9:56 am: 11
Well said Pamir
I think of myself being on a runaway train and I need to jump off, dust myself off, take a deep breath and reorient my focus on what really matters. Ah - the drama!
Warmly,
Lorraine
There's personal power in speech on 27 Nov 2007 at 5:13 am: 12
[...] been tagged for this meme on how we give away our personal power by Lorraine Cohen. I have been doing a lot of work on my personal power lately and one area that has been brought [...]
Exercising Some Control | The Next 45 Years on 13 Jan 2008 at 10:21 am: 13
[...] 28th, 2007 Categories: Faith, Live Life, Success Recently fellow blogger Lorraine Cohen of Powerfull Living asked me to participate in an OnGrowing Weekly Challenge inspired by Donna Karlin, author of the [...]